AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG FEMALE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES IN PORT HARCOURT RIVERS STATE.

Nworuh OB; NYA EA; Dozie WU; Okereke CBN & Ubuoh EA.

1,2&3.Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

4.Department of Human Kinetics. University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

5 Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology (EMT),

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the awareness, form and utilization of emergency contraceptives among female university undergraduates in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The study was guided by three objectives and a null hypothesis. Related literatures were also reviewed. A sample size of 688 female students were drawn from a total population of 991 using Taro Yamane ( ) sample size formular. The sample comprised female university undergraduates residing in the University of Port Harcourt and Rivers State University of Science and Technology hostels respectively. A validated and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were presented in tables and pie chart. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-square test at P<0.05 significance. The results showed that 600 subjects representing 87.2% of the sample were aware of emergency contraceptives while 88 (12.8%) were not aware of emergency contraceptives. Moreover, 510 (74.1%) out of 600 female university undergraduates who were aware of emergency contraceptives, used it; while 90 (13.1%) did not use emergency contraceptives. Four types of Emergency Contraceptives were used among the subjects; these were Levonorgestrel (58%); Combined pills (5%) combined pills and Intrauterine Copper Device (IUCD) (10%) and Intrauterine Copper Device only (1%). Notably, 26% of the students did not use Emergency Contraceptive. A significant relationship was recorded between age and type of Emergency Contraceptive utilized among the students (X²=158.0, P<0.001 d.f =6). Levonorgestrel was used mainly by the teenage age range subjects while the Combining pills and Intrauterine Copper Device was used by those within the adult age range. Recommendations include; development of self control regarding sex and total abstinence from any form of sexual interaction. Female university undergraduates should get prescriptions as well as seek professional counseling on issues of contraceptives before usage.    

Keywords – Awareness, Utilization, Emergency Contraceptive, Female Undergraduates