Perceived motivators, knowledge, attitude, self-reported and intentional practice of female condom use among female students in higher training institutions in Dodoma, Tanzania

Abstract

Background Unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) inclusive, have remained to be a significant public health challenges among young people, especially across middle and low-income countries. Self-efficacy on the right ways of using condoms appears to be effective against the aforementioned health-related problems. However, most women of reproductive age tend not to use them when they are using highly effective contraceptives such as implants, and/or injectable hormones. It is unknown whether the uptake of female condoms among young girls is significantly high or not. Examining female students’ perceived motivators, knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported and intentional female condom practice in training institutions seems to be a key precursor in addressing the challenge. Methods The institutional-based analytical cross-sectional survey in a quantitative research approach was adopted to study 384 randomly selected female students from higher training institutions, in Tanzania. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaires from previous studies were the main data collection tools. Data analysis was done using a statistical package for social science (SPSS) with the strength of statistical limits set at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level. Results The response rate of the study was 100% with 24 ± 2.122 years respondents’ mean age while and 32.7% of them were in the third year of their studies. Only 6.2% of the respondents reported having used female condoms while 26.3% of them have not ever seen packages of female condoms. The minority of the respondents (21.7%, 23.3%, and 9.4%) demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitude, and intention to use female condoms respectively. Their age, accommodation, marital status, peer groups, previous training, knowledge, and attitude related significantly to their intentional practices of female condom use (p < 0.05). Conclusion Given the existing governmental and non-governmental efforts that advocate awareness creation and the uptake of various contraceptives, this study has found that knowledge, attitude, self-reported and intentional practices of female students admitted in higher training institutions within Dodoma region, Tanzania is low. Institutionalized educational programs on sexual and reproductive health matters may need to be prioritized to increase the availability, accessibility, and uptake of female condoms among female students in higher training institutions.

Knowledge, attitude, intentional practice and individualized determinants of COVID‐19 vaccine uptake among adults: A cross‐sectional study in Tanzania

“…The tools were confirmed to be clear and no further editing and deletion of the items were done, but it was translated into the Swahili language to blend to the literacy level of the study participants. As suggested by previous scholars (Millanzi, Herman, & Ambrose, 2023 ; Millanzi, Herman, & Mtangi, 2023 ; Mwanja et al., 2023 ; Shitindi et al., 2023 ), the data collection tool was pre‐tested among 30 adults aged 18 years and above at a different location from where the actual data collection was conducted to assure its validity and reliability. Respondents filled all items in the questionnaires entirely.…”

“…As shown in Table 1, the study involved 312 out of 12,584 randomly sampled adults in the Dodoma region. As it has also been used by some previous studies (Millanzi, 2022;Millanzi et al, 2020Millanzi et al, , 2021Millanzi, Herman, & Ambrose, 2023;Millanzi, Herman, & Mtangi, 2023;Millanzi, Osaki, et al, 2023;Mwanja et al, 2023;Shitindi et al, 2023), a proportionate formula was adopted based on the available number and level of health facilities that were stratified into dispensaries (n = 1: in one district) health centres (n = 2: in three districts), district hospitals (n = 2: in 6 districts) and referral hospital (n = 1: in Dodoma region). A simple random sampling technique by lottery methods was used to get study participants.…”

Prevalence, knowledge, attitude, motivators and intentional practice of female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age: a community-based analytical cross-sectional study in Tanzania

“…Chi-square and cross-tabulation were used to determine the relationship between variables. As it has been used by previous studies [ 30 , 31 ] shown in the statistical formula number two (2), a binary and multinomial logistic regression model was performed to determine the association between the predictor variables and the outcome of interest under study at a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level.…”

Feeding practices, dietary adequacy, and dietary diversities among caregivers with under-five children: A descriptive cross-section study in Dodoma region, Tanzania

“…Based on the recommendations from previous scholars [25][26][27], The following procedures were performed to determine the minimum sample size for the study using the formula by Cochran 1977 [28].…”