Assessment Of Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Emergency Contraceptive Methods Among Female Students In W/Ro. Kelemework Tiruneh Secondary School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Emergency contraception (EC) is a contraception administered after unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy. There are two methods of emergency contraception: hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive device. Objections to the use of emergency contraception include concerns that they may promote promiscuity and increase sexually transmitted diseases. Some studies have shown that, knowledge in relation to emergency contraception is limited among the women in Ethiopia and the practice is almost negligible. Improved knowledge about emergency contraception may decrease the unplanned pregnancy rate, unsafe abortion and save many lives. The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among female students in W/ro. Kelemework Tiruneh secondary school. A cross sectional survey was conducted from October 30 ,2014 to February 2014 on 180 female students in W/ro. Kelemework Tiruneh secondary school. Data was collected by face to face interview using a structured interview guide. The completed data were entered in to Microsoft excel manually and Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of questionnaires’ variables using statistical parameters in Microsoft excel to determine frequencies, percentages, and data was presented in table format. A total of 180 female students within the age range of 16-23 were involved in this study out of which only 58% of them heard about EC.As the respondents mentioned that the time frame in which EC must be taken was: 24% of them responded immediately after sex, 41.5% of them reported that within 24 hours after intercourse, 17% of responded that within 72 hours after intercourse & 5% of them responded that 5 days after intercourse; indicating the presence of female students who did not know the correct time frame when to be used. From the total of 40 respondents those who used EC and faced side effects were: 23% of them faced irregular vaginal bleeding, 35% of them faced nausea and vomiting, 13% of them faced breast tenderness and 15% of them free from any side effects. The study found that 80% of the respondents who faced unwanted pregnancy performed induced abortion. In general there are still students who have very low awareness, so that have low attitude and practice about EC among female students and as the findings showed that there is a significant side effects of taking EC, although the role of EC to prevent unintended pregnancy is more advanced. Therefore, any stakeholders in the school or anywhere should strengthen their intervention in advocating safe sexual behavior. Key words: Emergency, contraceptives, Female, students, W/ro.Kelemework Tiruneh secondary school, unintended pregnancy.