Knowledge and Use of Emergency Contraception Among Female College Students in Ghana (2025)

Knowledge, practices, and attitudes regarding emergency contraception among students at a university in Ghana

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2009

To investigate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes among students at a university in Ghana regarding emergency contraception (EC).An anonymous, self-administered, 39-item questionnaire was sent to 3200 students. The sample size was stratified and 2292 students were randomly selected.Of the 71.6% of students who responded, 51.4% had heard of EC. Among those, 19.4% thought EC consisted of contraceptive pills, 19.1% of “morning-after pills,” and 12.8% of an intrauterine device. Only 4.2% had ever used EC but 73.9% wished it were provided on campus. Of all the respondents, 90.9% called for the establishment of a reproductive health counseling center on campus.Student knowledge and use of EC were poor, and there is urgent need for reproductive counseling and EC services on campus.

Pre-service knowledge, perception, and use of emergency contraception among future healthcare providers in northern Ghana.pdf

Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 2019

Abstract Background: Emergency contraception, if used properly, can prevent up to over 95 % of unwanted and mistimed pregnancies. However, a number of obstacle including healthcare providers knowledge, perception, and attitude towards emergency contraception (EC) prevent women and adolescents from having access to EC. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 191 female final year nursing and midwifery students of Tamale Nurses and Midwives Training College in the Northern Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling method was used to sample 100 students from the nursing programme and 91 from the midwifery programme. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were performed to determine factors associated with awareness about EC and use of EC. Results: Over four-fifths, 166(86.91%), of the participants indicated they had heard about EC prior to the study. Majority (80.10%) of the participants correctly indicated the time within which to take emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). More than half, 105(54.97%), of the participants did not know the appropriate time within which to use IUD as EC. Almost four-fifths, 74(38.74%), of the participants indicated it is morally wrong to use EC and more than half, (n = 104, 54.45%), of them said EC use promotes promiscuity. Only 49(25.65%) participants said they had ever used ECP. Of the number that indicated ever-using ECP, 36(73.47%) cited condom breakage or slippage as the reason for using the method. Conclusion: Though there was a relatively high level of EC awareness and knowledge among the students, some students lacked detailed knowledge about the method, especially the use of IUD as EC. We found that it was easy to access EC in the study area but the use of EC was low among the students. Most of the students demonstrated a positive attitude towards EC, but many of them believed EC encourages promiscuous sexual behaviour and that it is morally wrong to use EC. The curriculum for nursing and midwifery education should provide opportunity for detailed information and practical knowledge on EC to demystify negative perceptions and attitudes of nursing and midwifery students towards EC and other forms of contraception and to improve their knowledge on EC

Awareness and Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives: A Survey among Ghanaian Tertiary Students

2019

Background: Unplanned pregnancy has become a public health concern globally. It has been linked to unsafe abortion and maternal mortality. According to the World Health Organization, developing countries bear nearly all the burden of the 22 million abortions and two thirds of the abortion related mortalities each year. Ghana is one of the developing countries with high prevalence of unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion. The Emergency contraceptive (EC) is the only female contraceptive method that offers women the opportunity to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. However, little is known about its utilization among women in Ghana. This study investigated the knowledge and utilization of EC among tertiary students in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Methods: The method adopted was cross sectional study conducted in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region of Ghana from February to April, 2016. Participants were selected using Original...

Pre-service knowledge, perception, and use of emergency contraception among future healthcare providers in northern Ghana

Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 2019

Background: Emergency contraception, if used properly, can prevent up to over 95 % of unwanted and mistimed pregnancies. However, a number of obstacle including healthcare providers knowledge, perception, and attitude towards emergency contraception (EC) prevent women and adolescents from having access to EC. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 191 female final year nursing and midwifery students of Tamale Nurses and Midwives Training College in the Northern Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling method was used to sample 100 students from the nursing programme and 91 from the midwifery programme. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed to determine factors associated with awareness about EC and use of EC. Results: Over four-fifths, 166(86.91%), of the participants indicated they had heard about EC prior to the study. Majority (80.10%) of the participants correctly indicated the time within which to take emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). More than half, 105(54.97%), of the participants did not know the appropriate time within which to use IUD as EC. Almost four-fifths, 74(38.74%), of the participants indicated it is morally wrong to use EC and more than half, (n = 104, 54.45%), of them said EC use promotes promiscuity. Only 49(25.65%) participants said they had ever used ECP. Of the number that indicated ever-using ECP, 36(73.47%) cited condom breakage or slippage as the reason for using the method. Conclusion: Though there was a relatively high level of EC awareness and knowledge among the students, some students lacked detailed knowledge about the method, especially the use of IUD as EC. We found that it was easy to access EC in the study area but the use of EC was low among the students. Most of the students demonstrated a positive attitude towards EC, but many of them believed EC encourages promiscuous sexual behaviour and that it is morally wrong to use EC. The curriculum for nursing and midwifery education should provide opportunity for detailed information and practical knowledge on EC to demystify negative perceptions and attitudes of nursing and midwifery students towards EC and other forms of contraception and to improve their knowledge on EC.

Knowledge and Usage of Emergency Contraceptives Among University Students in Ghana

Journal of Community Health, 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and usage of Emergency Contraceptives (ECs) among university students. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire involving 1,871 students of the University of Ghana. The results showed that majority (87.9%) ofthese students were aware of some regular contraceptives and ECs. The results also revealed that despite the awareness of these contraceptives among students, majority (70.4%) had never used any form of contraceptives. The authors recommend that the university should use social media as a means of creating awareness of contraceptives in general and ECs in particular to the students.

Factors Associated with the Use of Emergency Contraceptive Pills among Students of the Takoradi Polytechnic in Ghana

Background: Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortions are major public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. In the Western Region of Ghana, unsafe abortions account for 3.8% of all maternal deaths. Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) give women opportunity to prevent unwanted pregnancy in the first few days after unprotected sexual intercourse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and use of ECPs among students in a tertiary institution in the Western Region of Ghana. Methods: We conducted a survey using a self-administered questionnaire which inquired into socio demographic background, awareness, knowledge and use of ECPs. We performed descriptive and bivariate analysis, and used logistic regression in analysis to determine the factors influencing ECP use. Results: Awareness of emergency contraceptive was high (74.7%) but use was low 28.4%. Those who had basic awareness of EC however lacked detailed knowledge about the content, Manortey et al.; JSRR, 12(3): 1-10, 2016; Article no.JSRR.29478 2 effectiveness and the timing schedule after unprotected sex. Sixty seven per cent had used emergency contraceptive pills more than ones within a year. Conclusions: A high level of ECP awareness in this student population is not matched by usage. Abuse and repeated use of emergency contraceptive could be curbed by educating young adults on emergency contraception with emphasis on content, effectiveness and correct timing of use, through various communication channels.

Knowledge of emergency contraception among students in a tertiary institution in a developing country

Open Access Journal of Contraception, 2012

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) has been available in developing countries without prescription for some time. There is, however, little research into the extent of the knowledge of mode of action, effectiveness, and availability of this form of contraception in rural areas. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of EC with respect to mode of action, effectiveness, and availability in rural areas among students in a tertiary institution in a developing country. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to tertiary students in a university in rural area in a developing country. This questionnaire asked about their knowledge of the mode of action of EC, its availability over the counter, its cost, and the student's willingness to purchase it. Results: Some 488 of the 500 questionnaires were returned. One hundred and eight (22.1%) of the students had used EC or bought it for a girlfriend at some stage in the past. Two hundred and forty four (50.0%) knew the correct timeframe for its use, while 201 (41.2%) were not aware of its availability over the counter in pharmacies, and 150 (30.7%) felt unable to purchase EC in a pharmacy where they are known. One hundred (20.5%) of the participants were aware of the cost of EC. Conclusion: The students had good knowledge of the timeframe for the use of EC, but lacked information regarding the availability and the cost of EC in the community.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward Emergency Contraceptive Among Females Student at Unity University, Adama Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, 2020

Background: Unwanted teenage pregnancies have a notable detrimental impact on the learners' trajectory and have been associated with jeopardizing the students' educational progress and future career prospects. These pregnancies are mostly unplanned and unintended and many are terminated, either legally or illegally. Each year, about 210 million women around the world become pregnant. Among them, about 75 million pregnancies (36%) are unplanned and/or unwanted. Globally, more than 20 million women experience ill health as a result of pregnancy each year. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards emergency contraceptive methods among female students in

Knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among students in tertiary schools in Anambra State Southeast Nigeria

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 2010

Emergency contraception is very important in the fight to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancy and the attendant unsafe abortion within the developing countries. This multicentered, cross sectional and questionnaire based study assessed the knowledge and practice of emergency contraception among 600 undergraduate students selected from four tertiary institutions in Anambra State Southeast Nigeria. 38.1% were aware of emergency contraception while only 8.5% of them had ever practiced it. Friends were the major source of information about emergency contraception (34.7%) followed by the media (20.6%). None of the respondents cited family planning clinic as their source of information on contraceptives. Postinor was the commonest emergency contraceptive mentioned by the students who know about emergency contraceptives (45.0%) followed by oral contraceptive pills (33.3%). It is recommended that the Government and collaborating agencies should intensify efforts in improving access to emergency contraceptives among the undergraduates.

Awareness, use and associated factors of emergency contraceptive pills among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Tamale, Ghana

BMC Women's Health, 2014

Background: Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are one of the means by which women can use after intercourse to prevent pregnancy. ECPs can be used to reduce the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. This study investigated awareness and use of ECPs among reproductive age (15-49 years) women in Tamale, Ghana. Factors associated with the use of ECPs were also investigated. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 200 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Tamale, Ghana. Data on socio-demographic variables, awareness and usage of ECPs were assessed by means of a previously validated questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the use of ECPs. Results: Awareness level of ECPs were found to be 69.0% (n = 138); 42.8% (n = 59) got the awareness from a health worker, 31.8% (n = 44) from the radio/TV and 25.4% (n = 35) from family members/friends. Eighty-five percent (n = 117) knew the correct time-frame for an effective use of ECP to prevent pregnancy. Forty percent (39.9%, n = 55) of the participants who had awareness have ever used ECPs. Factors that were found to be associated with the use of ECPs were; participants who said ECPs were affordable (AOR = 6.1, 95% CI = 2.51-10.40, p = 0.001), available (AOR 2.1, 95% CI = 0.61-6.01, p = 0.001), cultural (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.01-10.15, p = 0.011) and religious unacceptable (AOR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.02-10.0, p = 0.005). Conclusion: A relatively high level of awareness and usage of ECPs was found. Factors that were associated with the use of ECPs were availability and affordability. Cultural and religious unacceptability did not hinder the use of ECPs. Health authorities should continue to make ECPs available to women of reproductive age.