ICT: BREAKING BARRIERS TO CONTRACEPTIVES INFORMATION AND USAGE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN THE SUNYANI EAST MUNICIPALITY, BRONG AHAFO REGION, GHANA

Abstract

Introduction: Information Communication Technology (ICT) is the use of computers, mobile phones and internet to access, process, receive, send, and use various kinds of data and information. With the expansion of mobile phone users and availability of internet services, teenagers are now using ICT to create awareness and use contraceptives, an area considered to be the preserved of married couple. Purpose: The paper examines how the application of ICT by teenagers broken traditional and religious barriers to accessing and utilizing contraceptive information in the Sunyani East Municipality. Methodology: The research design was a mixed method combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The target population was teenagers between the ages of 11 and 19 years in Senior High and Junior High Schools. Out of 87 schools, 16 schools were randomly selected using simple random sampling technique. The total sample size was 212 teenagers. Data was collected from the respondents, using interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions. The paper found that ICT is a major means of accessing, sharing and using information about contraceptives by the teenagers, information is hard to access because of societal perceptions, sociocultural and psycho-religious barriers. Findings: The paper found that ICT has impact on their perceptions, utilization or otherwise, because they now the effects of various kinds of contraceptives. Recommendation: The paper recommends that teenagers should be given proper ICT education to enable them use credible websites on the internet to get contraceptive information. Education should be intensified through the mass media, free lectures, radio and television discussions to augment the use of ICT to expand the number of teenagers using contraceptive.