Emergency contraception: knowledge and perception of female undergraduates in the niger delta of Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of, and perception of female undergraduates in the Niger Delta of Nigeria towards Emergency Contraception.

Methods: Anonymous self administered questionnaires were applied to randomly selected non-medical female undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt in May 2005.

Results: Six hundred questionnaires were retrieved out of 610 distributed. The respondents were between 17-30 years. Those reported to have ever had sex were 85.3%; most of whom (98.4%) have previously used some forms of contraception. About 50.7% of 600 respondents were aware of emergency contraception; amongst which reports of friends/peers as the source of knowledge ranked highest (33.55%). About 88.2% of those that are aware of Emergency Contraception knew the correct timing. More than half (57.9%) did not know correct dosage of the available post-coital pill. While half (50.7%) of those having knowledge of postcoital pills agree to the efficacy; only a third (35.53%) agreed to have actually used it.

Conclusion: The awareness and use of Emergency Contraception amongst female undergraduates in Niger Delta region of Nigeria is low. Prompt education of this group of students in Emergency Contraception should be encouraged with emphasis on available methods and correct timing of use.

Keywords: Emergency Contraception; Female Undergraduate; Knowledge; Nigeria; Perception.