Contraceptive use among Students of a Health Training institution in the North-east Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Despite contraceptive awareness and availability to the general population, including higher education institutions, unplanned pregnancies continue to increase.
 Aim: The study assessed contraceptive usage among female health students in the North-East Region, Ghana.
 Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional studydesign was used to assess contraceptive use among 143 female health students. The data was collected using an online survey, analysed descriptively, Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
 Results: The age ranged from 18 and 36 years, with a mean age of 23.7 (Sd±2.82) years, and the majority (69.9%) were in the 21-25 years age category. The mean age of first sexual intercourse was 17.8 (Sd ±5.65) years. The overall prevalence of contraceptive use was 59.0% with ever and current users being 47.6% and 35.,7% respectively. The male condom was a commonly used contraceptive (53.6%). Using the Chi-square test, we found significant differences between current contraceptive use and age at first sexual intercourse (X2=15.42, p=0.009), protection during first sexual intercourse (X2=7.30, p=0.026), current relationship status (X2=15.12, p<0.001), and multiple sexual partners (X2=10.25, p=0.001). Being in a sexual relationship (OR=4.49, 95%CI: 1.61, 12.50, p=0.004) was positively associated with current contraceptive use. Prevention of unwanted pregnancy/birth was the common reason for contraceptive use, with fear of perceived side effects as the reason for non-use of contraceptives. 
 Conclusion: Overall, the study found high contraceptive use with significant discontinuation among ever and current users. There is a need for public health education and promotion programmes to increase the acceptance and use of contraceptives among the study population and the public.

Knowledge, Attitude and Utilisation of Modern Contraceptives among Female Senior High School Students in the Kpando Municipality, Ghana

“…The current study further revealed that the majority of respondents got contraceptives from pharmacies, and condoms were the most commonly used method. This is consistent with a similar study conducted in the North-East region of Ghana [15]. This could be because condoms are easily accessible at the pharmacy and also because condoms are the most appropriate contraceptive method used among unmarried people given its dual capacity to prevent STIs and unplanned pregnancy.…”

“…The region became one of the two regions in Ghana with a high prevalence of teenage pregnancy in 2016 accounting for 15.5% of the national prevalence with the contraceptive acceptance among young people in the Kpando Municipality very low as compared to the adult population [17]. The HIV population among young adults 15-24 years increased between 2018 (34,219) to 2022 (40,497) and that of adolescents (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19) years) stood at 21,439 in 2022 [18,19]. The national prevalence of HIV reduced from 2.1% in 2018 to 1.8% in 2022 [18,19].…”

“…Knowledge of contraception is universal in Ghana but usage is lowest among the youngest women aged 15-19 at 19% [10, 11]. The male condom is the most known modern contraceptive method and the most used [12, 13, 14, 15]. The proportion of family planning acceptors increased gradually from 18% in 2009 to 23% in 2014 in the Volta region with the age group 15-19 being the least acceptors [16].…”