INTENTION TO PREVENT UNWANTED PREGNANCY AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe attitudes, subjective norms, perceived self efficacy, and intention to prevent unwanted pregnancies of male and female adolescents toward unwanted pregnancy.

Methods: This descriptive research used simple random sampling methods to select 382 adolescent participants aged 13 19 years living in Ratchaburi province, Thailand. The data were collected after received approval by the Ethics Committee of College of nursing Chakriraj and informed consent of participants. Four questionnaires collected the data: 1) attitude 2) subjective norms 3) the perceived self efficacy and 4) intention to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The reliability of Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was 87, .80, .82, and .84 respectively.

Result: The results reveal that attitudes toward unwanted pregnancy were at a high level (Mean=3.67). The subjective norms were at a high level (Mean=4.22). Adolescent self efficacy on preventing unwanted pregnancy was at a high level (Mean=4.01), and intention to avoid unwanted pregnancy was at a high level (Mean=4.33).

Conclusion: There is a need to better promote attitude to prevention unwanted pregnant among male and female adolescents since this is the lowest average scores when compare with self efficacy for prevention, subjective norms, and intention to prevent unwanted pregnancy.