Contraceptive knowledge, sexual behavior, and factors associated with contraceptive use among female undergraduate university students in Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that knowledge of contraceptives, especially among the youth in universities, remains limited, and the rate of premarital sexual activity, unwanted pregnancies, and illegal abortions remains higher among university students. This study aimed to assess contraceptive knowledge, sexual behavior, and factors associated with contraceptive use among female undergraduate university students in Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania.MethodsA cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from May to June 2015 among undergraduate female students in four universities in Kilimanjaro region. A self-administered questionnaire was given to the participants. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. An odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for factors associated with modern contraceptive use was computed using multiple logistic regression models. A P-value of <5% (two-tailed) was considered statistically significant.ResultsA total of 401 students were involved in the study. Two-thirds (260, 64.8%) of the participants had had sexual intercourse. The majority (93.8%) of the participants had knowledge of contraception. One hundred and seventy-five (43.6%) sexually active women reported that they used contraceptives in the past, while 162 (40.4%) were current contraceptive users. More than half (54.2%) of the sexually active group started sexual activity between the ages of 20–24 years. The most popular methods of contraception used were condoms, withdrawal, and periodic abstinence. The main sources of information about contraception were friends, television, and health care workers (44.8%, 40.3%, and 39.0%, respectively).ConclusionMost of the participants had knowledge of contraception. However, the rate of contraceptive use was low. The majority of the respondents were sexually active and started sexual activity at >18 years of age. Hence, advocacy for adolescent reproductive health education to promote the use of the available contraceptive services among university students is needed.

Sexual Behaviour, Knowledge and Use of Contraceptives Among Undergraduate Students

“…Sexual behaviour is defined as a person sexual life. Sexual behaviour as it pertains to sex includes courtship, masturbation, estral display and the mating act 13 . It is one aspect of the total pattern of reproductive behaviour in animals 14,15 , including all responses directly associated with genital stimulation and copulation.…”

“…The psychological, logistical and social constraints to contraceptive adoption are offset by programme activities that enhance service accessibility, improve the climate of information exchange and legitimise contraceptive behaviour 13,49 .…”

Assessment of the unmet needs of contraception among female undergraduate students in southern Nigeria

“…Interestingly, respondents who were in their third year in the higher institution and below were more likely to use contraceptives and this was a significant finding. The results from a study carried out in Zanzibar in 2014 gave a contrast finding where female undergraduate students who started sexual activity at secondary school level were less likely to be associated with current use of contraceptives compared to those who started sexual activity in University (Sweya et al, 2016). This may be due to the fact that they are younger and less experienced sexually; hence they may shy away from risky sexual behaviours of which non-use of contraception is one, because of the fear of unwanted pregnancies.…”

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“…In another study on contraceptive knowledge, sexual behavior and factors associated with contraception among female undergraduate students in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania, contraceptive knowledge was indicated to be very high (98.3%). Despite the sufficient knowledge of contraception, contraceptive use by the sexually active female students was low (Sweya et al 2016). This might be due to the negative attitudes and misconceptions that the female students have towards contraception.…”