The Performance Of Reproductive Health Education Among Female Adolescents: A Case Of Chamwino District, Dodoma Region

ABSTRACT

This study entitled as ―The Performance of Reproductive Health Education Among Female Adolescents‖ which conducted in Chamwino District, in the four selected villages namely; Nzari, Mahamha, Mvumi Makulu and Mvumi Mission. Data were collected using questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion and Interviews. Ninety six respondents and thirteen key respondents were involved in the study. Information for quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 16 and content analysis was used for qualitative information. The findings from this study have revealed that a school was the most institution for delivering reproductive health education (RHE). About 91% of respondents have perceived RHE adequacy in increasing their level of awareness on the consequences of early pregnancies, illegal abortion and STIs/HIV/AIDS. But it has failed to reduce cases of the three aspects, despite of the awareness. Furthermore, lack of reproductive health experts, inadequate school syllabus coverage on reproductive health, poverty, and peer pressure were viewed as major reasons for failure of reducing cases of the three aspects. The challenges encountered during the provision of RHE were opposition from cultural and religious factors, limited access to nonschooling adolescents and lack of teachers who possess the necessary knowledge and training, to teach appropriate information on sexual and reproductive health matters. It is therefore, important that RHE be a good way of giving right information to all young people in the community. Thus, it is recommended that school, health centers and community be more effective way of educating adolescents towards risky sexual behavior among adolescents.