Knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among students in tertiary schools in Anambra State southeast Nigeria

J. A. Obiechina Nworah, U. Mbamara Sunday, O. Ugboaja Joseph, O. Ogelle Monday and C. Akabuike Josephat

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital,

P. M. B. 5001, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: nworanj@yahoo.com.  Tel: 2348033917067.

Accepted 25 November, 2009

   Abstract

Emergency contraception is very important in the fight to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancy and the attendant unsafe abortion within the developing countries. This multicentered, cross sectional and questionnaire based study assessed the knowledge and practice of emergency contraception among 600 undergraduate students selected from four tertiary institutions in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. 38.1% were aware of emergency contraception while only 8.5% of them had ever practiced it. Friends were the major source of information about emergency contraception (34.7%) followed by the media (20.6%). None of the respondents cited family planning clinic as their source of information on contraceptives. Postinor was the commonest emergency contraceptive mentioned by the students who know about emergency contraceptives (45.0%) followed by oral contraceptive pills (33.3%).  It is recommended that the government and collaborating agencies should intensify efforts in improving access to emergency contraceptives among the undergraduates.

Key words: Emergency contraception, undergraduate students, tertiary schools in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.