Table A1.

Optional comments regarding contraception and abortion made by secondary school teachers (n = 122) in suburban secondary schools in Western Kenya

Contraception

Use of contraceptives should be encouraged.

There is a high level of stigma surrounding use of contraceptives.

The 3 months injection (contraceptive) has problems. Many mothers have difficulties after long use.

Young girls should be educated on the use of contraceptives before they make decisions on use.

Abortion

Negative stereotyping

A girl who had an abortion should be loved and accepted not hated and condemned.// Should not be discriminated but should be counseled. // A woman should have the option of aborting or not, without being judge or criminalized.// Maybe she had no option other than abortion. She should not be condemned in any way. She should be counseled instead of being disgraced.

They too deserve a better treatment and a second chance. Proper education to be given the girl on the effect of abortion to avoid being a victim and being depressed.

A girl who has had an abortion should be treated normally like any other girl except she can be counseled not to make it a habit. // Abortion is a sin but there are various reasons that can make one abort, such as unexpected pregnancy, pregnancy out of incest, rape, etc. One can abort on medical grounds.

Abortion is committing a sin to God. // Abortion is murder and murder is sin. Everyone should flee from sexual sin.// Abortion is a sin and should not be thought of by anybody. Moreover, children in God's eye are blessings. So the world should accept children born out of wedlock!!// It's a sin to abort, young girls must be counseled. Abortion is not accepted in our community. Girls should abstain until wedlock!// Jesus came for the sinners. Repentance heals. Repentance heals even the worst of sinners. Acts 17:30. John 3:16. ?

Abortion is a crime unless otherwise.

In my community abortion is viewed very negatively.

Abortion is a woman's right. // Abortion is one's choice.

My community does not support abortion but we cannot judge.

Abortion may be necessary if, one is raped, incest has taken place, or has ill health.// There are reasons that may justify abortions like rape, incest, age and health conditions.// Abortion should be discouraged but accepted only when there is complications when giving birth.// The consequences of abortion might be unbearable but abortion should be allowed for medical reasons if they can afford the lady/girl a good survival rate.

Abortion is to be conducted when it is absolutely necessary or when there is a good cause. As long as it can promote and enhance quality health in the community. Abortion should be done with democracy?? and with one´s consent. Girls, parents, teachers and students should be made or sensitized to make an informed decision on abortion

Abortion should be strongly discouraged especial at a tender age of a girl child.// The abortion should be discouraged at all cost.// Abortion is not a good practice. Women should be encouraged to have babies once they have conceived.

Girls should always be canceled so that they don't engage in abortion and sexual activities before marriage.

Exclusion and discrimination

You know what happens in our schools if a girl is found to have attempted abortion in school?? she´s expelled it happened this term!

Instead of discriminating against a woman/girl who has had an abortion, she should be taken for counseling you make her understand the problems (medical) associated with abortion. In my community, if a woman has an abortion she is supposed to be separated until when the time is right for her to join the rest of the clan members. That's how it's done. She cannot eat with pregnant women or carry infants.

The exclusion and discriminations stated above may not transform the girls who has aborted

Fear of contagion

These fears of contagions may not have basis in the real-life situations.

Other

More guidance need on this topic.// There is a need for awareness about abortion.

The healthy sex life should be deserved by all gender at equal capacity.// Matter sexual should be an agreement between the 2 parties (boy and girl). No party is superior.

All the items depend on the social and economic upbringing of an individual.

Culture and tradition are the greatest stumbling block to free thought on abortion.

The best guidance is the one which comes from the word of God coupled with parental guidance and peer guidance based on scripture.

Abstinence should still be encouraged as a desirable value/status amongst our young girls and boys.

Comments were optional at the conclusion of the survey. There were 41 teachers that commented with 51 total comments, which were grouped by scale and subscale. Comments that were irrelevant (i.e., those pertaining to the survey in general) were not included above and comments that were redundant were removed. Similar topics are separated by //.