EXAMINING STAKEHOLDERS’ VALUES AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS CONDOM DISTRIBUTION TO ADOLESCENT LEARNERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN NKHOTAKOTA, MALAWI

Abstract

The study examined values and attitudes towards condom distribution to adolescent learners in secondary school in Nkhotakota, Malawi. The problem which raised this debate was that the Ministry of Health (MoH) and some NGOs were promoting condom distribution in secondary schools. The reason for promoting condoms was that adolescents would be prevented from contracting or transmitting HIV and STIs and unplanned pregnancies. This, however, was not welcomed by other stakeholders especially the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST) and the religious community claiming that distributing condoms in schools has the potential to increase sexual practices among students. A cross sectional mixed methods survey was designed to investigate the values and attitudes of the stakeholders towards condom use and distribution among learners. Eight key informants and 119 adolescent learners aged between 15 and 19 were recruited as study participants. The study established that most adolescents have positive values and attitudes towards condom distribution and use in school. However, the study also found out that other stakeholders like religious leaders and key informants from the education sector had values and attitudes which did not accept condom distribution to adolescents in secondary schools. For the values and attitudes from adolescent leaners, utilitarian theory was used in an ethical examination. Conflicting values and attitudes of different stakeholders were examined using common morality and beneficence ethical principle.