Recent reports suggest that there has been an alarming increase in the pregnancy rate
of young adults especially in the Outjo district, the northwestern part of Namibia. No
formal studies have been conducted recently to get a better understanding of this
phenomenon, which is of great concern to all social and healthcare stakeholders.
According to the annual report of the Outjo hospital 2009/2010, 36% of the pregnancies
reported at the hospital were youth still at school (Namibian 2011). Negative health
outcomes of early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including
HIV/AIDS (Human immunodeficiency virus infection / Acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome), threaten the health of these young adults who will become the mature
adults and parents of the future. This study aimed to assess factors that hinder young
adults both male and female from utilizing contraceptives in Outjo district in the northwestern
part of the Republic of Namibia. Some of the objectives of this study were to
explore the personal factors that influence the decision to use contraceptives among
young adult of the Outjo district; examine socio-economic factors that influence young
adult’ decision to use contraceptives, and determine pregnancy rate amongst female
young adults in the Outjo district. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a
quantitative descriptive survey method and retrospective analysis of the records was
used. The study population was young adults 18 to 24 years of age. A semi-structured
validated questionnaire was utilized to collect data. Data was analyzed by using SPSS
19 software to generate frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The
findings can contribute and play a significant role in developing new strategies by all
stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and Education, to approach non
adherence of contraceptive use amongst the young adult population in an innovative
ways, and ultimately stem the tide against the high rate of youth pregnancies in the
Outjo district.