EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION: KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS IN DILLA UNIVERSITY, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 2018

Abstract

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Globally, despite the availability of effective contraception methods, the number of unintended pregnancy is high among an adolescent that leads to a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Taking emergency contraceptive within the recommended time is highly effective to prevent unintended pregnancy. In Ethiopia, the high rate of unwanted pregnancy among female students in the Universities is a community and government concern. Thus, this study is aimed to determine the level of knowledge and practice of emergency contraceptives among female students in Dilla University, Southern Ethiopia, 2018. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted and multistage sampling technique was employed to enroll a total of 672 study participants. A systematic simple random sampling was used to enroll study units. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the SPSS-20 software. RESULT: Only 150(40.3%) had used emergency contraceptives after having unprotected sexual intercourse However, from the total respondents, 372(29.4%) were sexually active, 84(22.5%) had a history of unintended pregnancy and eighty (95.2%) of pregnancy ended up with abortion. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the utilization of emergency contraceptives after unprotected sexual practice was low among female students in the University. Therefore, more effort is needed to access emergency contraceptives in the university, mainstreaming reproductive and sexual issues and community awareness on adolescents’ reproductive and sexual rights may alleviate this burdened health risk of female students in the Universities.