Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Contraception among Staff and Students in a University Community in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

There is evidence to show that unplanned pregnancies are on the increase among women in Nigeria. It is true that one of the ways to improve reproductive health is by enhancing access to contraception. This study was to evaluate knowledge, perceptions and practices of contraception among 500 staff and students of a university in south-south Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Abraka and Oleh Campuses of Delta State University using appropriately designed, validated and pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 20. Respondents were students (70%), males (47.8%), aged 21-30 (48.9%) and Christians (90.9%). 84% of the respondents had good-to-excellent knowledge of contraceptives; 75.1% were sexually-active; contraceptive use prevalence was 58.2%; main reasons for non-use of contraceptive were hatred for it an intolerable side-effects. Condoms and oral pills were the preferred methods and safety, reliability and accessibility were proffered as reasons for choice; 17.3% had experienced contraceptive failure which resulted in abortion (47.4%). Pharmacy shops, health centers and Chemist shops were the sources for procuring contraceptive products; Family/friends, television and health professionals were sources of information about contraception; 46.7% did not experience side-effects; marital status was correlated with contraceptive knowledge and use. This study recommends that family planning should be vigorously promoted in a country like Nigeria with a high fertility, maternal and child mortality rates.

Sexual Behaviour, Knowledge and Use of Contraceptives Among Undergraduate Students

“…Further from a study conducted in Delta State of Nigeria, there is a negative attitude towards the use of contraceptives with a good fraction of people explaining either that it interferes with pleasure during sex, or they just would not use condoms in sexual relationships with trusted partners 5 . This also hinges on behavioural change wheel, but it is of different perspective from socioeconomic status factor.…”

“…Contraceptives are relatively accessible and affordable, with numerous types or options being available. Yet, incidence of unplanned pregnancies and STDs are still high 5 . Indeed, teenage pregnancies is a global issue and probably highest in sub-Saharan Africa 6 .…”

“…A study on sexual behaviour and contraceptive usage has been done in Delta State University (Figure 1) 5 . However, that study included staff and students without delineation of student subpopulation for special evaluation.…”

Family Planning Utilization Pattern in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria: a Six-Year Review

“…There are also regional and sociocultural differences within the country [4]. A study conducted in Bayelsa, South-South Nigeria, among university undergraduate students and staff reported a CPR of 58.2% while another study conducted among female undergraduates in Benin, South-South Nigeria about a decade earlier, reported a CPR of 39% [5], [10]. In Ekiti as at 2013, the contraceptive prevalence for any method was 34.5% while the modern contraceptive prevalence was 26.6% [4].…”

The Use of Contraceptives in Nigeria: Benefits, Challenges and Probable Solutions

“…students (Bankole & Onasote, 2017;Bello et al 2016;Eniojukan et al 2015), still there is no reduction in population growth and social problems attached. Is it that the participants are knowledgeable of the oral contraceptive pills but refused to use them?…”