Adolescents Locus of Control As a Determinant of Their Reproductive Health Service Utilization

Adolescents Locus of Control as a Determinant of Their Reproductive Health Service Utilization  

Research has shown that regular use of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents can significantly reduce mortality from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. However, in the developing world the use of such services by female adolescents remains well below international goals.

In an effort to understand the factors that influence low use of sexual and reproductive health services among adolescents, this study explored the influence of locus of control and sexual health utilization practices in Nigeria.

The study used a representative sample of 1855 secondary school female adolescents in Imo State between ages 14-19years in a cross-sectional survey.  Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between adolescents’ locus of control and their use of sexual reproductive health services. This means that adolescents locus of control has a major influence on their behavior towards use of the services 

The implication is that efforts towards improving sexual health in Nigeria should be multifaceted so that adolescents are also informed and empowered to use reproductive health service.

Similarly, local health departments should provide interventions that targets adolescents health beliefs and behaviour as well as implement social programs that promote health service use among adolescents. This would help the government in achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG5b) of increasing access to reproductive health services by adolescents in Nigeria.