Parents’ viewpoint on reproductive health and contraceptive practice among sexually active adolescents in the Port Harcourt local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria

The viewpoint of parents on reproductive health, specifically their attitude towards contraceptive use among sexually active adolescent daughters and general opinion on adolescent pregnancy, was examined. A sample survey of parents of pregnant adolescents in Port Harcourt was conducted. A greater proportion (79.1%) of parents did not favour the use of contraceptives by sexually active adolescents because according to their parents, contraception kills. Also, most (87.8%) parents did not usually discuss sexual matters with their adolescent girls. However, the majority (93.2%) of parents would want a sex education programme in schools in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy.