Knowledge Of Emergency Contraception Research Articles

Emergency Contraception Knowledge and Practices Among Advanced-Level Secondary School Female Students in Geita Town Council, Tanzania

Emergency Contraception Knowledge and Practices Among Advanced-Level Secondary School Female Students in Geita Town Council, Tanzania

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive Among Female Preparatory School Students in Awsi Resu Zone(01), Afar, Ethiopia, 2023

BACKGROUND: Students in preparatory schools are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, which may lead to a rise in untended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and STIs. Many of these unplanned pregnancies can be avoided using emergency contraception. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of emergency contraceptives. OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of emergency contraception among preparatory school students of Awsiresu zone (01) in Afar, Ethiopia. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected preparatory schools in Awsi Resu Zone, Afar, Ethiopia, from October 20 to November 8, 2023, among 419 female students who were selected using the systematic random sampling method. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed and entered into the Kobo toolbox. Data were collected by five female public health officer students using interview-administered methods. A one-day discussion was held among group members and data collectors on how to obtain consent and collect complete data. The collected data was exported to SPSS window version 26 for analysis, and a descriptive analysis was performed for all variables. RESULT: Three hundred ten (74.0%) of the students said that they have heard about emergency contraceptives. 57.7% of the students had a positive attitude towards emergency contraceptives. One hundred (32.3%) of the students said that EC is recommended as a regular contraceptive method, and another one hundred forty-one (50.2%) students said that EC can prevent STIs. Among the ten respondents who had used emergency contraceptives, six (60%) used regular contraceptives. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study findings showed that most of the respondents who had ever heard of emergency contraception had good knowledge and a positive attitude, despite some respondents having misunderstandings about emergency contraceptives. Therefore, the Afar Health Bureau should distribute educational materials such as brochures, posters, and flyers that teach about emergency contraception and arrange programs on a regular basis to provide accurate information concerning the utilization of emergency contraception.

Knowledge of emergency contraception and acceptability of unplanned pregnancy among married women in reproductive age in Beni-Suef

Knowledge of emergency contraception and acceptability of unplanned pregnancy among married women in reproductive age in Beni-Suef

Emergency Contraception Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Among Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Emergency Contraception Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Among Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Knowledge of Oral Emergency Contraception Among Pharmacy Students.

Access to emergency contraception is an important consideration in preventing unintended pregnancies. Inconsistent information about emergency contraceptive given to patients at retail pharmacies may limit access. In this study, we aimed to assess pharmacy students' knowledge of oral emergency contraception. Students in a Doctor of Pharmacy program completed a confidential survey about their knowledge of and training on oral emergency contraception. Respondents self-reported demographics included age, race, ethnicity, gender, and year in pharmacy school. The survey questions assessed student knowledge of indications, availability, side effects, and mechanisms of action of oral emergency contraception, as well as their training on emergency contraception. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine if demographics influenced knowledge outcomes. A multivariate logistic regression, including age, gender, ethnicity, religion, year of training, hours of education, and source of knowledge acquisition, was used to adjust for confounding variables. Among 296 pharmacy students, 31% (92/296) completed the survey. Among respondents, 34% (31/92) showed adequate knowledge of oral emergency contraception based on four critical knowledge questions. Third- and fourth-year students were more likely to have adequate knowledge than first- and second-year students (odds ratio [OR], 2.70; confidence interval [95% CI], 1.07-6.80). Students who reported learning about emergency contraception through reading assignments were more likely to have adequate knowledge than students who did not report learning from reading assignments (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.30-3.35). Most pharmacy students at a single academic center did not have adequate knowledge of oral emergency contraception. These findings highlight the need for trainings to improve pharmacy student knowledge of oral emergency contraception.

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE ON EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION AMONG HIGHER SECONDARY STUDENTS

Background: Emergency contraception is a modern contraceptive method that can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Adolescents are one of the vulnerable groups for premarital, unsafe/unprotected sexual intercourse resulting in unintended pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of secondary school students. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study design was used, and the study population included students in grades 11 and 12, including all faculties, selected by a proportional simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data and findings. Results: The present study revealed that out of 222 respondents, the majority of respondents 65.3% had good knowledge and 52.3% of respondents had favorable attitudes towards emergency contraception among secondary school students. Some socio-demographic characteristics were significantly associated with good knowledge age (p<0.001), educational level (p<0.001), and faculty of education (p=0.004) and were not significant with other socio-demographic variables. However, there was no significant association between attitude towards emergency contraception and socio-demographic variables. Conclusions: Most of the respondents have good knowledge and a positive attitude towards emergency contraception. However, very few of them knew about the right time to use emergency contraception and other related aspects. Therefore, awareness programs can be conducted at the high school level to increase the level of knowledge and correct use of emergency contraception.

Are Female Undergraduates at the University of Calabar Equipped with the Knowledge, Positive Attitudes, and Effective Practices of Contraceptives?

BACKGROUND: The global challenge of rapid population growth necessitates family planning programs to address reproductive health needs and control population increase. However, unintended pregnancies, particularly among adolescents, remain a significant problem, leading to increased risks of sexually transmitted infections and unsafe abortions. In Nigeria, contraceptive use is low among youths, resulting in high incidences of induced abortions and sexually transmitted infections. Barriers such as religious beliefs, cultural factors, limited availability, personal beliefs, and fear of side effects contribute to the under-utilization of contraceptives. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female undergraduates of the University of Calabar, Cross River State. Data was collected using a 42-item questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. Multi-stage sampling was employed, and data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 26 using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 21.5 ± 2.72 years. Most participants were in their first (26.7%) or second (22.6%) level of study. 28.8% were in sexual relationships, while 71.2% were not. Approximately a quarter of respondents had experienced symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. 71.5% had no knowledge of emergency contraception. Condoms (71.2%) and pills (54.5%) were the most commonly mentioned methods of contraception, while tubal ligation was the least popular (4.7%). The main benefit cited for contraception was the prevention of unwanted pregnancy (92.2%). 47.3% had no idea about the side effects of contraception, with irregular menstruation being the most commonly mentioned side effect (19.3%). Friends/peers, the internet, and school were the primary sources of information on contraception. 56.4% believed that contraception is not solely for females and should not be reserved for the literate. Over a third of respondents thought contraception encourages promiscuity and has too many side effects, with more than half demanding contraceptive services on campus. Less than half of the respondents (43.9%) reported using contraception at some point, with even smaller percentages using contraception in the last six months (25.2%) or during their last sexual intercourse (23.8%). Of the 101 who used contraceptives in their last sexual intercourse, the majority (83%) used condoms, while pills (7%) and emergency contraception (10%) were less common. Preferred sources for contraception were pharmacies (57.5%) and chemist shops/patent medicine vendors (24.7%). Religion (41.5%), fear of side effects (34.9%), and partner consent (28.3%) were the main influences on contraceptive use. Several factors were significantly associated with contraception utilization, including age, partner's educational level, knowledge of contraception, and level of study (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The low utilization of contraception among female undergraduates at the University of Calabar despite high awareness and poor knowledge highlights the need for interventions. Factors influencing utilization include age, knowledge, and level of study. Barriers such as religion, fear of side effects, and partner consent must be addressed. Recommendations include sensitization campaigns, establishing a youth-friendly center on campus, incorporating contraception into curricula, collaborating with NGOs, and increasing funding for research.

Women's Emergency Contraception Knowledge Level, Some Related Factors And Relationship With Health Literacy

Amaç: Kadınların acil kontrasepsiyon hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin saptanması, ilişkili olduğu düşünülen bazı değişkenlerin incelenmesi ve sağlık okuryazarlığı ile ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesidir. Gereç ve yöntem: Bu çalışma, Haziran 2021-Ekim 2021 tarihlerinde arasında Sakarya’da bir Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi’nin Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Polikliniğine başvuran kadınlar üzerinde gerçekleştirilen kesitsel tipte bir araştırmadır. Çalışma grubu 456 kadından oluşmuştur. Çalışmada veriler, yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle elde edilmiştir. Kadınların acil kontrasepsiyon bilgi düzeyleri literatürden faydalanılarak hazırlanan 20 sorudan oluşan acil kontrasepsiyon bilgi formu ile değerlendirilmiştir. Bilgi sorularından 6.9 ve üzeri puan alanlar acil kontrasepsiyon hakkında bilgi düzeyi yeterli olarak kabul edilmiştir. Sağlık okuryazarlık düzeyinin belirlenmesi için Avrupa Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği Kısa Formu kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Ki-kare testi, Lojistik Regresyon analizi, K-Means Kümeleme Analizi ve Spearman Korelasyon Analizi kullanılmıştır. İstatistiksel anlamlılık değeri olarak p≤0.05 kabul edilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışma grubunu oluşturanların yaşları 18-49 arasında değişmekte olup, ortalama 34.50±8.61 yıl idi. Acil kontrasepsiyon ile ilgili olarak en çok doğru bilinen bilgi sorusu %38.4 ile “Ertesi gün hapı döllenmiş yumurtanın rahim içine yerleşmesini önler” iken en çok yanlış bilinen ise %12.5 ile “Acil kontrasepsiyon için ilişki sonrası RIA uygulaması, hiç doğum yapmamış kadınlar için uygun değildir” idi. Çalışmada kadınlardan %65.1’nin acil kontrasepsiyon ile ilgili bilgi düzeylerinin yetersiz olduğu saptanmıştır. Kadınların Sağlık Okur Yazarlık Ölçeği puan ortalamasının 35.73±6.48 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yapılan ileri analiz sonucunda “40 ve altı yaş grubunda olmak” ile “lise ve altı öğrenim düzeyine sahip olmak” yetersiz acil kontrasepsiyon bilgi düzeyi için iki risk faktörü olarak saptanmıştır. Acil kontrasepsiyon ile ilgili bilgi sorularından alınan puanlar ile sağlık okuryazarlığı ölçeğinden alınan puanlar arasında bir ilişki saptanmamıştır (r=0.029; p=0.531). Sonuç ve öneriler: Çalışmamızda kadınların yaklaşık olarak üçte ikisinin acil kontrasepsiyon hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin yetersiz olduğu saptanmıştır. Kadınların acil kontrasepsiyon hakkındaki bilgi düzeyleri ile sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyleri arasında bir ilişki saptanmamıştır. İstenmeyen gebelik ve isteyerek düşüklerin önlenmesinde acil konstraseptif yöntemlerinin bilinirliğinin artması oldukça önemlidir. Kadınların acil kontrasepsiyon hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerinin artırılabilmesi için konu hakkında sağlık otoriteleri tarafından eğitim etkinliklerinin yapılması ve bu yöntemlere ulaşımın kolaylaştırılması yararlı olabilir.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice About Emergency Contraception Among Saudi Women of Childbearing Age of Eastern Region in Saudi Arabia.

Background and aim Emergency contraception (EC) refers to methods of contraception that are used within 72 hours up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse to prevent unintended pregnancy. It can postpone ovulation, stopping fertilization. Ella®(progestin receptor modulator), plan B, birth control tablets, and the copper intrauterine device(IUD) are examples of emergency contraception. The aim of the study is to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of emergency contraception among Saudi women of childbearing age in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Methods It is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Data was collected through a pretested online questionnaire after approval from an ethical committee and women's consent to participate in the study. Women between 18 and 49 years old were included in the study. Women aged under 18 and over 49 years were excluded from the study to make the sample population more homogenous. Participants were provided a link to a questionnaire form to be completed from theirdevices (phone or laptop). Results A total of 648 childbearing Saudi women completed the survey. The majority were between 18 and 25 years old. Approximately 263 (40.6%) had no children, and 348 (53.7%) earned less than 5,000 SAR monthly. Four hundred and sixty-seven(72%) of the participants had never used emergency contraception. Four hundred and seventy-eight (73.8%) did not know the maximum acceptable time for using EC. Three hundred and fourteen (48.5%) did not know the potential risks to the baby in case of failure of emergency contraception. Two hundred and twenty-three(34%)patricians wrongly believed that there would be a potential risk to the baby if the patient got pregnant after using emergency contraception. Three hundred and eight (47.5%) participants supported the idea of the availability of emergency contraception without a prescription, and a majority believed that they would not feel shy in asking for emergency contraception. Five hundred and seventy-one (88%)participants did not visit any family planning clinic last year. A significant source of EC information was a doctor or a family planner, 206 (31.8%). A considerable barrier to EC use was fear of side effects and health risks, as reported by382 (59%) respondents. Conclusions The current study reveals that participants have positive attitudes towards emergency contraception, but use is deficient because of poor knowledge and lack of awareness. Our study urges the urgent need for awareness campaigns by health professionals to improve learning and remove wrong fears and beliefs about emergency contraception.

Emergency contraceptive knowledge and associated factors among abortion experienced reproductive age women in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis using EDHS 2016 data

BackgroundEmergency contraceptives (EC) are used to avoid unintended pregnancy, hence avoiding its incidence and its effects. In Ethiopia, emergency contraception is commonly accessible, especially in the big cities. However, there is virtually little understanding of or awareness of EC and Ethiopia has a high abortion rate. Therefore this study was aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors for emergency contraceptive knowledge in Ethiopia.MethodsThe study was based on secondary data analysis of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 data. A total weighted sample of 1236 reproductive age women was included. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the significant associated factors of emergency contraceptive knowledge. Statistical significance was determined using Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval.ResultsOverall magnitude of emergency contraceptive knowledge was observed to be 17.19% (95% CI: 15.18, 19.40) with intra-class correlation (ICC) 57% and median odds ratio (MOR) 6.4 in the null model. Women’s age 25–34 (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.5), and 35–49 (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.06, 3.3), secondary and above educational level (AOR = 3.41; 95% CI: 2.19, 4.88), media exposure (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.56, 5.64), Being in metropolitan region (AOR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.46, 4.74), and women being in urban area (AOR = 3.19; 95% CI: 1.20, 5.23) were associated with emergency contraceptive knowledge.ConclusionEmergency contraceptive knowledge in this study was low. Women age, educational level, media exposure, residency, and region were significantly associated with emergency contraceptive knowledge. Therefore, to enhance understanding and use of ECs in the current Ethiopian setting, it is imperative to ensure exposure to EC information, particularly in rural regions.

Descriptive Study on a Nationwide Exploratory Questionnaire Survey of Emergency Contraceptive Pills and Their Sexual History and Knowledge in Japan.

A shift towards obtaining emergency contraceptives without a prescription have been discussed in Japan. In response to this social background, we aimed at investigating the background of sexual intercourse, emergency contraceptive use, and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health education among women of reproductive age in Japan. In this study, we conducted a national wide cross-sectional questionnaire survey using a total of 4 web-based domains (background, sexual history, emergency contraceptives, and sexual and reproduction-related knowledge) composed of 50 questions. We obtained responses from a total of 4,631 participants of varying age groups (18-25, 26-35, and 36-45 years old) and 47 prefectures (84 to 118 from each prefecture). Among participant responses, 69.7% are sexually active, of which 49.0% had experiences of sexual intercourse with an unknown person. The responses from a total of 737 participants who have sexual intercourse, know of emergency contraceptives, and have experienced a situation that necessitated the use of emergency contraceptives, were analyzed. Of these participants, 46.4% (342/737) took emergency contraceptives, while 43.6% (321/737) participants did not take emergency contraceptives. Participants who have the knowledge for obtaining emergency contraceptives through the correct means were 52.6% (2438/4631). This study showed that approximately half of participants may not have correct knowledge of emergency contraceptives. In addition, approximately half of sexually active participants are facing unintended pregnancies due to a lack of sexual and reproductive awareness. Hence, comprehensive sex education is necessary to achieve social and regulatory changes centered on emergency contraceptives.

“A Lot of My Friends Don't Know How It Works”: Student Activists Describe Gaps in College Students' Emergency Contraception Knowledge

IntroductionDespite the high potential need for emergency contraception (EC) among college students, lack of accurate knowledge may decrease the likelihood of its use in this population. We examined knowledge about EC methods, potential outcomes of use, and access among college students in the United States. MethodsWe recruited college students from a listserv devoted to EC campus activism for an online survey about EC knowledge (N = 150) and conducted 24 follow-up in-depth interviews. We describe the share of respondents that correctly answered each question and provide additional context and insight from interview respondents. ResultsGaps in EC knowledge were noted in our sample of college student EC activists. Awareness of different methods of EC was not universal; 38% of the sample was unaware of ulipristal acetate (ella®) and 61% was unaware of the intrauterine device inserted after intercourse as EC. Many respondents also incorrectly perceived additional barriers to acquiring EC such as minimum age or an ID requirement to purchase EC (64% and 49%, respectively). Interview respondents describe how medical providers, such as student health services and pharmacists, can pose barriers to EC access through either their actions or how college students expect they will act. ConclusionsWe document several gaps in knowledge surrounding EC in college students, even in an activist sample. Additional efforts to inform students about the variety of available EC methods and address mistaken perceptions about barriers to access may allow college students to better meet their needs for EC.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers to the Practice of Emergency Contraception Among Women with Induced Abortion in Sikkim

Background: Contraceptive utilization is a practice that helps individuals or couples to avoid unwanted pregnancies. This study aimed to assess to explore the knowledge and practice of emergency contraception among women with induced abortion in Sikkim. Objective: To explore the knowledge, attitude, and barriers to the practice of emergency contraception among women with induced abortion in Sikkim. Methods: In this study, 280 women between the ages of 15 and 45 years who had a history of induced abortion participated. The research is conducted at Central Referral Hospital, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim to learn about attitudes about and obstacles to using emergency contraception among women who had induced abortions. Results: Out of the total, 78% of respondents have knowledge about unprotected intercourse or a failure of the contraceptive method, and 21.5% of respondents have no knowledge about it. 75% of respondents have a positive attitude, and 25% of respondents have a negative attitude. The participants experienced adverse reactions such as nausea/vomiting, and 53% of respondents experienced excessive bleeding. Conclusion: The present study concluded that information about EC is not sufficiently present among the women living in Sikkim. They lack information about the dosage of EC, usage timing as well as its impact. The awareness programs will help to educate the females more about contraceptives and to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.

Emergency contraception – pharmacists’ knowledge and attitude on emergency contraceptives’ dispensing practices

Abstract Objectives Emergency contraceptives have the potential to reduce health complications in women with unintended/unwanted pregnancies. Access to availability and use of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) is influenced by pharmacist knowledge and attitudes, and there are limited data in Nigeria on pharmacists’ ECPs dispensing practices. This study assessed pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards the use of emergency contraceptives. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted among 100 community pharmacists in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria with the use of a self-administered structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained Likert-type 17-item knowledge, 9-item attitude and 15-item practice scales. The scales utilised 5–7 graded responses. The scaled score was graded as good and poor knowledge, positive and negative attitude and high, moderate or low-level practice of emergency contraception. The ability to predict the level of practice of emergency contraception, based on the pharmacist’s knowledge and attitude towards the use of ECP, was determined with hierarchical multiple regression as P < 0.05. Key findings Good knowledge of emergency contraceptives was displayed by 51.5% of the pharmacists, and 51.9% had a positive attitude towards the use of ECPs. The level of ECP dispensing practices was high among 43.4% of pharmacists and low among 30.1% of pharmacists. More than 30% of the pharmacists offer a high level of educational services practice for ECPs. Pharmacists’ knowledge (β = 0.348, P = 0.002) and attitude (β = −0.302, P = 0.007) were predictive of the dispensing practice of ECPs. Conclusion The community pharmacists have good knowledge of emergency contraceptive use and showed a positive attitude towards the dispensing of emergency contraceptive pills.

Awareness and utilization of emergency contraceptives among female nursing students at KIU, western campus, Bushenyi District

Emergency contraception is used as an emergency procedure to prevent unintended pregnancy after an unprotected sexual intercourse and method failure. This study assessed knowledge and utilization of emergency contraception among certificate female nursing students of Kampala International University, western campus. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female nursing students of Kampala International University in August 2016. Participants were sampled using systematic sampling technique. Pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data was entered and analyzed using Microsoft excel programme. Results were presented using descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages. A total of ninety-six (96) volunteered certificate nursing female students participated in the study. Seventy-six (79%) of the female certificate nursing students ever heard of emergency contraceptives (EC), only 8(11%) used/or ever used the method. The commonest source of information was formal health education (71%). EC are indicated in preventing pregnancy post rape (29%), failure of barrier method (24%), missing of oral contraceptives (20%); and should be initiated within 24 hours (43.4%). In addition, students knew that ECs do not terminate pregnancy if the woman is already pregnant (68%), are available not only by prescription (74%), effective when taken immediately (50%) and do not protect and prevent STD (88%). The present study shows that knowledge of emergency contraceptives among certificate female nursing students of Kampala International University is high though utilization of the method is still very low despite some having unintended pregnancies. Evidently, there is a need for carefully designed educational programmes and promotion of EC in student health care centers in the campus. Keywords: Emergency Contraceptives, unintended pregnancy, Bushenyi District, oral contraceptives.

Assessment of knowledge towards emergency contraceptives among college students in Ramechhap district of Nepal

Introduction: A high rate of unintended pregnancy exists among college students as they belong to the sexually active age group. So, it is significant to know the knowledge of college students regarding emergency contraceptives.
 
 Objectives: To assess the knowledge of students towards Emergency Contraceptives and to identify the association between male and female students towards knowledge of emergency contraceptives.
 
 Method: An online survey in Ramechhap district among college students studying in bachelor’s and master’s level was conducted from March 15, 2022 to April 10, 2022 where total of 169 students participated. Non parametric test was used to find the result of the objectives.
 
 Result: The study showed that 83.4% students had the knowledge of Emergency Contraceptive pills and 59.2% of students first heard about such pills in the last 5 Years. Among them 79.9% of students knew where to get Emergency Contraceptive pills, 24.2% of students know the Emergency Contraceptive pills works if there is menstrual delay. Only 56.9% of students know the time to take Emergency Contraceptives pills after unprotected sexual intercourse and 46.7% of students know that the Emergency Contraceptive pill is not used for regular contraception. Only 49.1% of students know the right number of tablets that needs to be consumed after unprotected intercourse.
 
 Conclusion: Majority of the students are aware of the Emergency Contraceptive pills however they have limited understanding about it. In comparison to female students, male had better understanding about Emergency Contraceptives.

Awareness and utilization of emergency contraceptives among female undergraduates in Kano: North west Nigeria

Unintended pregnancy remains a major challenge to the reproductive health of women, especially female undergraduates. It is a cause of unsafe abortions and their attendant complications and contributes significantly to maternal mortality, which can be prevented by the use of emergency contraceptive. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study which was carried out among 374 non-medical, non-allied medical sciences, non-basic medical sciences and nonpharmaceutical sciences female undergraduates of Bayero University Kano, Northwestern Nigeria. Self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection and analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0 Software. The Chi square test was used to test for association at p<0.05The age range of the respondents was 15-45 years, with mean age of 24.98±4.96 years. Most of the respondents were between the ages of 20-29 years. More than half of the respondents (260, 69.5%) were single. The majority of the respondents (334, 89.3%) were aware of emergency contraception. There was statistically significant association between sources of information and year of study with awareness of emergency contraception (p<0.05). Respondents in this study demonstrated good awareness and knowledge of emergency contraception. Despite the conservative nature of the community where this study was conducted, there was good level of utilization of emergency contraceptives in the study population.

Adolescents’ knowledge, attitude and utilization of emergency contraceptive in Idjwi Island in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: Unintended pregnancies are a major health problem and one of the main interventions to reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions is the correct use of emergency contraception (EC). The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and utilization of EC among adolescent girls in Idjwi Island, Eastern of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 353 adolescent girls aged 15-24 who were recruited and who completed a pre-established questionnaire after they were accepted into the survey. Data collected were analyzed with STATA 16 software and the comparison of variables with the Chi-square test and a significance threshold of 5%. Results: We found that 293 (83.0%) reported having ever had sexual intercourse and 220 had heard of EC. The proportion of respondents with sufficient knowledge was 59.1% (130/220) and the assessment of attitude towards the EC shows that 81.8% (180/220) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards EC. Of 293 respondents who had ever had sexual intercourse, 148 (50.5%) reported having ever used EC. Respondents with a secondary educational level (adjusted odds ratio =14.3 [7.2-28.3]) and university educational level (adjusted odds ratio =4.8 [1.8-13.0]) were more likely to use EC compared to those with a primary educational level. Conclusion: The study shows that the level of EC utilization was medium in Idjwi Island. Educational level was a major predictor of EC utilization. Therefore, it is recommended that strategies be developed to improve EC utilization by increasing the level of EC awareness among adolescent girls.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BARRIERS TO THE UTILIZATION OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Unintended and unwanted pregnancy is a public health threat among young women and girls in developing countries including Ghana. Despite all the public health interventions, the effectiveness of the use of emergency contraceptives (ECs) to avert unintended pregnancies is still low in Ghana. Little is known about the knowledge, attitude, and barriers to ECs utilization in Ghana. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to the utilization of ECs among female students of the University for Development Studies, Tamale. A total of 309 female students of reproductive age were selected using a simple random approach. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for the study. Also, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to the utilization of ECs. Frequency and percentage distribution of the sociodemographic factors, and behavioral and attitude variables of EC variables were computed using the SPSS software (version 20). Overall, the majority (65.0%) of the participants showed sufficient knowledge of ECs. Also, 54.0% of the respondents had a good attitude toward EC. An assessment of the reasons for not using any form of ECs revealed that some of them wanted pregnancy (26.6%), lacked knowledge about ECs (18.1%), and partner refusal (4.3%). Also, religious beliefs (37.2%) were barriers to the utilization of ECs. In conclusion, the study found a high level of knowledge and a good attitude toward ECs among the study participants. However, partner refusal and religious beliefs were mentioned as barriers to the utilization of ECs. Therefore, we recommend that the health authorities in charge of reproductive health education should liaise with religious leaders as they could partner in the creation of awareness of EC.
 
 Keywords: Emergency Contraceptive, Knowledge, Attitude, Barriers, utilization.

Messaging and access strategies for improving emergency contraceptive knowledge and uptake among Italians

Objectives Over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) purchase was legalised in Italy in 2015. Knowledge and access gaps, however, remain. The goal of this study was to explore women’s and men’s EC informational and access needs. Methods As part of a larger reproductive study, researchers conducted 42 in-depth interviews (May–June 2019) with English-speaking women and men aged 18–50 years (mean ± standard deviation, 29.1 ± 7.9 years) living in or near Florence, Italy, and using the Italian health care system. Researchers completed qualitative data analysis to identify emergent themes related to EC knowledge, attitudes and access. HyperRESEARCH aided data organisation and analysis. Researchers used a comparative method to contextualise data and identify emergent themes. Results Findings demonstrated that peer communication and experiences served as influential factors in others’ EC use. This propagated misinformation, reducing participants’ confidence in EC efficacy and safety. Women described the relevance of relationship type in whether to engage men in EC discussion, while men desired an active supportive role. Finally, participants described various messaging and access channels to increase EC knowledge and access. Conclusion Findings offer practical recommendations to guide social marketing and behaviour change interventions to increase EC access among women and men in Italy. The utility of pharmacists to individuals wishing to access EC is explored.