Factors associated with Intention of Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy among Female Junior High School Students in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with intention of
preventing adolescent pregnancy among female junior high school students in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a school, Pak Chong district. 137 female junior high school students were selected by multistage sampling technique and completed self-administered questionnaire with four main parts including socio-demographics factors, knowledge, perceived self-efficacy and intention of preventing adolescent pregnancy. Chi-square test and Pearson correlation
coefficient were used to analyze association between independent and dependent variables with statistical significant of p-value 0.05. The factors associated with intention of preventing adolescent pregnancy were: class year (p<0.001), family status (p=0.012), age (r=0.478, p=0.001), and perceived self-efficacy (r=0.236, p=0.005). Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive
health must be supported that means providing access to comprehensive sexuality education. It also means empowering young people to know including the right to delay marriage and the right to refuse unwanted sexual advances.