Abstract
BackgroundUnintended pregnancies are associated with unsafe abortions and maternal deaths, particularly in countries such as Botswana, where abortion is illegal. Many of these unwanted pregnancies could be avoided by using emergency contraception, which is widely available in Botswana.AimTo assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of female students with regard to emergency contraception at the University of Botswana.SettingStudents from University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.MethodsA descriptive survey among 371 students selected from all eight faculties at the university. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.ResultsThe mean age was 20.6 years (SD 1.62), 58% were sexually active, 22% had used emergency contraception and 52% of pregnancies were unintended. Of the total respondents, 95% replied that they had heard of emergency contraception; however, only 53% were considered to have good knowledge, and 55% had negative attitudes towards its use. Students from urban areas had better knowledge than their rural counterparts (p = 0.020). Better knowledge of emergency contraception was associated with more positive attitudes towards actual use (p < 0.001). Older students (p < 0.001) and those in higher years of study (p = 0.001) were more likely to have used emergency contraception.ConclusionAlthough awareness of emergency contraception was high, level of knowledge and intention to use were low. There is a need for a targeted health education programme to provide accurate information about emergency contraception.
Highlights
Emergency contraception (EC) is a contraceptive method used to prevent pregnancy after a known or suspected failure of contraception or unprotected intercourse, including sexual assault
Emergency contraception can reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure by between 75% and 99% if taken within 72 h of sexual intercourse.[2]
Overall awareness of EC was very high among female students at the University of Botswana, only half had good knowledge of EC and less than half had a positive attitude towards using EC
Summary
Emergency contraception (EC) is a contraceptive method used to prevent pregnancy after a known or suspected failure of contraception or unprotected intercourse, including sexual assault. Emergency contraception hinders or delays ovulation, prevents fertilisation and may affect implantation, but does not disrupt an already established pregnancy.[1] The two types of contraception that are widely used are oral hormonal tablets and insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD). Unintended pregnancies are associated with unsafe abortions and maternal deaths, in countries such as Botswana, where abortion is illegal. Many of these unwanted pregnancies could be avoided by using emergency contraception, which is widely available in Botswana
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