Authors : Boakye Kwame Yiadom; Mahama Bashiru; Boakye Boatemaa Akua; Bakinam Adamu; Valentine Ayangba

Volume/Issue : Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : http://tinyurl.com/2p937ewm

Scribd : http://tinyurl.com/97z3ydar

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10432585

Abstract : Contraception is the prevention of conception through the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs or surgical procedures. A descriptive Cross-sectional survey was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on emergency contraception among final year health students in the College of Nursing And Midwifery, Nalerigu in the North East Region of Ghana.A simple random sampling was used to select the first year 135 female RNAC nursing students for the study. Findings from the study showed majority of the respondents (64.4%) were students between the ages of 20-23 yrs., 19.3% (24-27 yrs.) and 13.3% (19 yrs.). The result further showed most of the respondents (96%) have knowledge/heard about emergency contraception with a few (4%) indicating they have no knowledge on emergency contraceptives. Regarding the sources for information on emergency contraceptives, some respondents (50%) indicated friends and relatives as the major source, while others (11%) said media programmes/advertisements. Out of the responses (n= 134), majority of the respondents (96%) chose Lydia pills and Postinor 2 as emergency contraceptives. A small number of the respondents (3%) said they don’t know any emergency contraceptives while a respondent (1 %) chose Depo Provera, Lydia pills and Postinor 2.The findings of the study also showed respondents (35.6%) best time to take emergency contraception after unprotected sex was between 48 to 72 hours. 33.3% of the respondents said 12 to 24 hours after sex and others (17.8%) said 24 to 48 hours.Regarding respondents’views as to whether they will recommend the use of contraceptives to friends and relatives. Majority (80%)agreed they will recommend. Also, 56.3% do not feel comfortable going to the shop to buy emergency contraceptives, while 51.9% saidcontraceptives weresafe for users. The finding from the study showed that the knowledge and attitude of the female students were higher than the practice/utilization. The District Health Directorate should therefore intensify education and awareness on the use of emergency contraceptives. Moreover, drug stores/pharmacy shops must improve their customercare to minimize challenges and stigmatization of the users.

Keywords : contraceptive, methods, health trainees, knowledge, and attitude.