Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraception among Students of a Tertiary Institution in Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Unintended pregnancies pose a major challenge to the reproductive health of young adults in developing countries. Tertiary institution students are an important high-risk group in any society and emergency contraceptives can prevent unintended pregnancies and its consequences in this high-risk group.

Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among female undergraduates in a tertiary institution in Kaduna state, Nigeria.

Methodology: A cross- sectional descriptive study was carried out using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. A total of 289 female students were selected using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 23 and results were presented using tables.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21 ±2.8 years. Only 37.9% of the respondents were aware of emergency contraception. Combined oral contraceptive pill was the most commonly identified (74.5%) emergency contraceptive. Only 37.9% of respondents had good knowledge on emergency contraception and about half (50.9%) of the respondents showed positive attitude towards emergency contraception. Among the respondents that were aware of emergency contraception only 31.1% had used it and Levonorgestrel (Postinor 2) was the most commonly used (81.8%). Almost two-thirds (62.3%) of the respondents’ practice of emergency contraception was poor.  

Conclusion: Knowledge and practice were relatively low in this study. About half of the respondents had positive attitude towards emergency contraception. Awareness programmes should be organized by the school management on emergency contraception and other modern contraceptive methods.