Emergency Contraception: Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Female University Students in South-East Ethiopia

Abstract

Unintended pregnancy poses a major challenge to reproductive health of young adults in developing countries, many of which are performed abortion in unsafe conditions and others carry their pregnancies to term, incurring the risk of morbidity and mortality. It has been estimated that widespread use of emergency contraception may significantly reduce the number of abortion-related morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess awareness, knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraceptive among female students of a University College. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February, 2013 among 760 female students. Form the total 760 students who participated in the study, 631 informed about contraceptives of these 288 (45.6%) of the respondents had heard of emergency contraceptive, but only 40 (13.9%) of them used the method. The common sources of information about emergency contraceptives were friends (36.1%), mass media (24.3%) and schools (20.1%). 202 (70.1%) of the students agreed to use emergency contraceptives when they practice unintended sexual intercourse. Awareness of emergency contraceptives was significantly associated with the year of studies of the respondents and their origin of residence (P-value < 0.05). Of those who practiced emergency contraceptive, 53.85 and 46.15% obtained emergency contraceptives from pharmacies and health centers or clinics, respectively. Awareness and use of emergency contraceptives among female students was low. Therefore, there is a need to educate adolescents about emergency contraceptive, with emphasis on available methods and correct timing of doses.

Keywords: Emergency contraceptive, female, awareness, knowledge, attitude, practice

Cite the Article

Habtamu Getahun, Fanta Gashe Fufa. Emergency contraception: awareness, knowledge, attitude and practice among female university students of South-East Ethiopia. Research & Reviews: Journal of Pharmacology. 2015; 5(1): 7–14p.