Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Emergency Contraception among Female Students in Preparatory School of East Shoa, Adama, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Emergency contraception are birth control measures that, if taken after unprotected sexual intercourse, contraceptive failure, incorrect use of contraceptives or in cases of sexual assault may prevent pregnancy.Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of female preparatory students towards emergency contraception in April, 2015. Method:The study was conducted in Adama city of Oromia region on 280 female students of Hawas preparatory school on 13 to 18 April, 2015. A cross sectional study design was conducted and Participants were selected using simple random sampling method. Data was collected by using self-administered questionnaires. Data processing and analysis:The collected data was entered into a computer and analyzed using statistical package of social science version 16.0. Result:In this study it was found that, 182 (65%) out of the study participants had a knowledge about emergency contraception most 143 (51.1%) of them reported that they know post pills and 20 (7.01%) of study participants had good knowledge about emergency contraception. Among 280 the study participants, 204 (72.9%) believe that emergency contraception is a good drug of option to prevent unwanted pregnancy and about 165 (59%) of them had positive attitude towards emergency contraceptives whereas 33 (11.78%) study participants had good practice of emergency contraception. Conclusion and recommendation:Even though this study revealed that some students` knowledge and practice towards emergency contraception was good, the improvement of female students' knowledge about specific details of the method and timely utilization of emergency contraception is still required. Therefore Hawas Preparatory school shall better improve knowledge of emergency contraception among the students by arranging different coffee debate.