Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive among Undergraduate Female College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Research Article

Austin J Obstet Gynecol. 2021; 8(5): 1182.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraceptive among Undergraduate Female College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Deressa JT¹* and Yang L²

1College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2Department of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan China

*Corresponding author: Jembere Tesfaye Deressa, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Received: April 13, 2021; Accepted: May 01, 2021; Published: May 08, 2021

Abstract

Background: Emergency contraceptive is a unique type of family planning methods, which has been available since 1970s and can prevent pregnancy, when used after unprotected sex around the time of ovulation.

Objectives: The main purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge level, attitude towards and practice of emergency contraceptive among female college students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used and data were collected by structured pre-tested questionnaire that 456 students were randomly selected. Logistic regression analysis was used and p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: About 53.3% of the study participant’s knowledge level were good and 56.1% of them showed a positive attitude towards emergency contraceptive. Field of study, year of study and awareness were associated with the knowledge level. Age, year of study and sexual behavior were associated with attitudes towards emergency contraceptive. Attitude towards emergency contraceptive and sexual behavior were associated with the utilization of emergency contraceptive.

Conclusions: The knowledge level, attitude towards and practice of emergency contraceptives were affected by age, field of study, level of study, awareness and sexual behavior.

Keywords: Attitude; Contraception; Knowledge; Practice; Female college students

Introduction

Emergency contraceptive is a unique type of family planning methods which has been available since 1970s and can prevent pregnancy, when used after unprotected sex around the time of ovulation [1,2]. The consequence of lack of emergency contraceptive both in developed and developing country results and unintended pregnancy which increases abortion throughout the world specifically among adolescents starting from middle school to university students [3]. Family planning services and supplies prevented 187 million unintended pregnancies each year including 60 million unplanned births and 105 million abortions [4]. The WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide recommendations for use of emergency contraceptive pills, including levonorgestrel and Yuzpe regimen (combined oral contraceptives) and it is a safe way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse and there are no medical contraindications to its use [5]. There are different types of emergency contraception, and some are more effective than others but obtaining emergency contraception within the recommended time frame was difficult for many women including university students that who have experienced unintended pregnancy, lack contraceptive and reproductive health knowledge [6].

Despite of becoming more open to premarital sex during college period, this is a key time for these students in terms of becoming sexually active and the unplanned pregnancy rate among the participants was 34.03% [7]. Abortion awakens a mixture of emotions in people generates much controversy in the public health discourse, underlined with significant cultural and moral considerations.

Unintended pregnancy among adolescents represent an important public health challenge in high-income countries, as well as middle- and low-income countries [8]. Many students active in premarital sex lack essential ability of safe sex, and are not able to get aware of contraceptive service [9]. These university students will be the workforce, which leads tomorrow’s social development in their country. Safe sex and prevention of unintended pregnancy are necessary measures to maintain good health among university students. Any woman requesting emergency contraceptive after unprotected intercourse should be offered treatment because it is safe for women of all ages [10]. Of all the contraception methods, this emergency contraceptive offers the last chance and used as a bridge to prevent pregnancy which differs from long-term contraceptive measures, and is an extremely effective back-up method in the instance of non-use or failure of regular contraceptives [11]. The study reported that the most effective emergency contraceptive is the Copper Intrauterine Device (IUD), followed by ulipristal acetate and levonorgestrel pills [12]. This emergency contraception is especially important for outreach to the 4.5 million women at risk of pregnancy but not using a regular method by providing a link to use of an ongoing contraceptive method [13]. Use of two methods can better prevent pregnancy and the transmission of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) compared to single-method use.

One of the key interventions to reduce unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and unsafe abortion as outlined in the national youth strategy is making emergency contraception available for these risky population [14].

The study result found in Ghana concluded that, as increasing awareness about emergency contraceptive among university students is important as they might be benefited from emergency contraceptive if other forms of contraceptives are missed [15].

One interventional study in Nigeria shows, health education plus advance provision of emergency contraceptive pills effectively improved knowledge and attitudes towards emergency contraceptive among female students of tertiary institutions more than health education alone [16].

Lack of knowledge about the risk of unintended pregnancy and having negative attitude towards emergency contraceptive are important factors for the practice of emergency contraceptive. The study by C.T Wang, 2015 summarized that Family planning policy and socioeconomic and demographic factors jointly influence contraceptive choice in china. Even though the Chinese government launched a nationwide family planning program offering birth control methods and family planning services in the 1970s; the use of emergency contraceptive is rare. Types emergency contraceptive available in china are; the levonorgestrel-only regimen consists of either: 1.50mg of levonorgestrel in a single dose; or two doses of 0.75mg each, taken up to 12 hours apart.

The combined estrogen-progestin regimen consists of two doses, taken 12 hours apart, of 100mcg ethinyl estradiol plus 0.50mg of levonorgestrel. In 2002, China became the first country in which mifepristone was registered for use as an emergency contraceptive. All emergency contraception are available both in governmental and private clinic with costs. The study by Zeng and his colleagues among university students about their attitudes towards sexuality and contraceptive practice showed the level of reproductive health knowledge of modern college students has not reached the stage of adapting to their physical and mental development, and attitude is open, the tolerance of premarital sex is high, and the proportion of premarital sex also increased. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes towards and practice of emergency contraceptive and identified factors associated with knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraceptive and summarized the significant results.

Materials and Methods

Study design and period

This descriptive cross-sectional study design conducted between December 2016 to February 2017 among undergraduate female college students found in the university who were purposively selected and had equal chance to participate on the study.

Sample size calculation

The sample size was calculated by using a single population proportion formula. To get the maximum sample size for knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraceptive was hypothesized to be 50% and that a non-response rate of 20%, then the required sample was calculated using this formula and total sample size was 462.

N = ([Za/2])2*P (1-p)*D/(d)²

Measurement and instrument

To promote validity and reliability within the study, a number of measures were introduced and taken from a previous published studies on emergency contraception [17,18] and there was some changes according to the local context. The questionnaire was composed of three thematic areas and was checked for Cronbach’s alpha for knowledge and attitude for internal consistencies (0.74, 0.81) respectively.

Twelve questions were used to measure knowledge of the respondents on emergency contraceptive. If the respondents get the right answer, it was coded as yes “1”, if not it was coded as no “0”. The respondents’ knowledge scores were aggregated, checked for normal distribution. Because of its distribution (was not normally distributed) median was used as cut-off point. Based on the cumulative score, respondents who scored the median value of the total and above, were considered as having had “good knowledge” of emergency contraceptive while those scored below the median were considered as having had “poor knowledge” of emergency contraceptive.

The attitude of study participants towards emergency contraceptive(s) was measured using 14 items rated on five-point Likert scale of six negatively and eight positively stated statements in order to maintain the balance of responses respectively: 1) Strongly disagree; 2) Disagree; 3) Neutral; 4) Agree; 5) Strongly agree. After reversing items that were negatively stated statements, the scores aggregated the result calculated from the median since study data were not normally distributed. Again, these results changed to dichotomous outcome; based on the cumulative score, respondents, who scored the median value of the total and above the median, were considered as having “positive attitude” towards emergency contraceptive while those scored below the median of the total were considered as having “negative attitude” towards emergency contraceptive.

The Practice of emergency contraceptive was any previous history of emergency contraceptive usage and the outcome was measured by their response (Yes or No).

Data management and analysis

Collected data was checked for completeness, coded and entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS 23.0. Descriptive statistics used to describe data by (mean, standard deviation, median, percentage, frequency) and logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with practice of emergency contraceptive. The 95% confidence interval was estimated and P<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results displayed in tables and graphs as needed.

Ethics statement

Institutional Review Board (IRB) gave the written ethical approval for this study.

Results

Sociodemographic characteristics

A total of 456 making 98.7% of response rate undergraduate female college students completed the overall questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were between the ages of 18-22 (85.3%) years old and more than half (61.5%) of them came from urban area in different divisions of the country with the average age (M±SD=19.75 ± 1.812) ranged 15-26 years old with 19.00 median as presented below (Table 1).