Investigating the Prevalent Side Effects of Depo - Provera Use among Adolescent Females at Bahn High School, Bahn City, Nimba County, Liberia

This study investigated the side effects of Depo-Provera among female students of Bahn High School, Bahn City, Nimba County, Liberia, and examined their influence on students’ health and academic engagement. The study was motivated by concerns that, although injectable contraceptives are widely used among adolescents, limited attention is often given to how their side effects affect daily functioning and learning outcomes. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, using structured, self-administered questionnaires to collect data from a respondent of 100 female students who had used or were using Depo-Provera. Descriptive statistical methods, including frequencies and percentages, were used to analyze the data with SPSS version 22. The findings revealed that Depo-Provera is widely utilized among students; however, its use is characterized by inadequate pre-administration counseling. The most commonly reported side effects were menstrual-related, particularly irregular bleeding and amenorrhea, along with weight gain. Although the majority of respondents perceived these effects as mild, they significantly influenced attitudes toward continued use. The study further established that side effects extend beyond physical symptoms to affect students’ daily activities, contributing to reduced activity levels, stress, fatigue, and social withdrawal. While school attendance was relatively unaffected, notable challenges were reported in concentration and participation, indicating a negative impact on academic engagement. Academic performance outcomes were found to be mixed, suggesting a complex relationship between contraceptive use and learning outcomes. Additionally, support systems were largely health-sector-driven, with minimal involvement from schools, despite a strong demand among students for enhanced reproductive health education. The study concludes that while Depo-Provera remains an important contraceptive option for adolescents, insufficient counseling and limited school-based support constrain its effective use. It recommends strengthening pre-use counseling, reproductive health education in school curricula, and school-based support systems to improve students’ health outcomes and academic engagement.

Depo-Provera; Side Effects; Adolescent Females; Academic Engagement

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