Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Associated Factors on Emergency Contraception Among Level- II to Level-IV Female Students in Hawassa College of Health Sciences, South, Ethiopia

Background: Emergency contraception is a method used after unprotected sexual intercourse and before the potential time of implantation to prevent unwanted pregnancy.(5,18) Students in higher education had limited Knowledge on emergency contraceptives and negative attitudes as well as the use is very low and abortion rate in cities is high compared to the national average. Objective :To assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors among level- II to level-IV female students in Hawassa College of health sciences with regard to emergency contraception. Method: A cross sectional design was employed among level- II to level-IV female students in Hawassa College of health sciences from June, 1-30/2011. The sample size of 334 female students selected by stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. To assess whether the instrument covered all dimensions of the construct, the relevant literature and experts in the field was consulted, with due consideration to the research problem. Finally, analyzed using SPSS V. 20 multiple logistic regressions were employed to describe the strength of association between the selected study variables by controlling the effect of possible confounders. Result: Among the 321 participants, 225(70.1%) ever heard about EC; and from those 169 (52.6%) ever heard about EC with in six months About 147 (45.8%) and 76(20.2%) of the respondents replied strongly agree and agree to use and recommend others to use respectively; that EC can prevent unwanted pregnancy and 88(27.4%) disagree and 10(3.1%) strongly disagree to use and recommend others to use that EC can prevent unwanted pregnancy only 56(17.4%) had ever used it, from them 54(16.8%) used progestin only pills (postinir-II) and 2(0.6%) IUCD Conclusion: The study shows the good knowledge and favorable attitude towards the EC among the female students in Hawassa College of Health Sciences, however, the study revealed low utilization of EC. Therefore, designing specific strategies to enhance emergency contraceptive utilization by increasing female students’ awareness on emergency contraceptive is recommended. Keywords :Emergency contraception, knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors , Student,female DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-15-05 Publication date : August 31 st 2019