ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: The study was aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of emergency contraception among the college students.

Methodology: Data was collected through self administered questionnaires, where by students were instructed what to do in introductory remark. All this was done first before being administered in the class. Then the filled questionnaires were collected.

Results: Majority were not using ECP 56(46.7%) with a reason of never had need for it, followed by 29 (24.2%) and 28 (23.3%), with reasons of partner doesn’t like it and religious reasons respectively. Cancer causation was chosen the least, 7 (5.8%). Only 23 individuals had ever used ECP in their life time, of these only 8 (34.8%) followed by 6 (26.1%) who had a failure in withdrawal. Only 136 individuals were able to respond to ECP using references, where by 75(55.1%) said yes. Large number of individuals 114 (85.7%) had never use ECP despite of sex exposure and only 19 (14.3%) were able to use ECP. Majority of individuals out of 80, 66 (82.55%) had a knowledge that ECP prevent pregnancy formation and few had a negative response, 7 (8.8%) causes abortion, 5 (6.3%) causes cancer.

Conclusion: This study revealed that people in our country with much concern to bearing age group, have very little knowledge about emergency contraception. However, they are highly in need of getting it, and they are also in need of knowledge and dispensing units.