Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Emergency contraception is a simple and safe method of preventing unwanted pregnancy following an unprotected or nonconsensual sexual encounter. University students have a history of engaging in risky sexual behaviors, leading to unintended pregnancies among female under...
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70575 |
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| author | Muhusin Alhassan Yaa Nyarko Adjeso Clement Tiimim Yanbom Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo |
| author_facet | Muhusin Alhassan Yaa Nyarko Adjeso Clement Tiimim Yanbom Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo |
| author_sort | Muhusin Alhassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background and Aims Emergency contraception is a simple and safe method of preventing unwanted pregnancy following an unprotected or nonconsensual sexual encounter. University students have a history of engaging in risky sexual behaviors, leading to unintended pregnancies among female undergraduates. This study assessed the utilization of emergency contraceptives (EC) among female college students in rural Ghana. Methods This quantitative cross‐sectional study was conducted among 310 female college students from two institutions – Midwifery Training College and the Tumu College of Education – located in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West region of Ghana. A structured questionnaire consisting of four sections was utilized as the data collection instrument. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the sociodemographic factors and knowledge level associated with emergency contraceptive utilization. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing SPSS v. 25.0 and STATA v. 14.0. Results 80.2% of students had heard of EC with the health worker (41.6%) and colleagues/friends (30.8%) being the most common sources of information. Overall, the majority of participants had good knowledge (78.2%) and good attitudes (77.8%) regarding EC practice. 52% had used EC before, with more than half (69.5%) utilizing levonorgestrel‐only pill the most. Good Knowledge (aOR: 4.46 [95%CI: 2.28‐8.72]; p < 0.001) and being in the Midwifery College (aOR: 1.96 [95%CI: 1.14‐3.38]; p = 0.015) were significantly associated with EC utilization. Conclusion Despite the majority of participants having heard of EC, most were not utilizing them appropriately due to a lack of detailed information and misconceptions. Health policymakers, heads of tertiary institutions, and educators should prioritize improving the educational curriculum and strengthening advocacy efforts in rural areas to address misconceptions and promote the benefits of EC, ultimately leading to better EC utilization and a reduction in unwanted pregnancies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1fefa15f66d54694980e6aa7636f78ca |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1fefa15f66d54694980e6aa7636f78ca2025-08-20T01:50:26ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-03-0183n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70575Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional StudyMuhusin Alhassan0Yaa Nyarko Adjeso1Clement Tiimim Yanbom2Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo3Midwifery Training College Tumu Upper West Region GhanaDepartment of Population and Reproductive Health School of Public Health, University for Development Studies Tamale Northen Region GhanaGhana Health Service, Sissala West District Health Directorate Upper West Region GhanaDepartment of Molecular Medicine School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ashanti region GhanaABSTRACT Background and Aims Emergency contraception is a simple and safe method of preventing unwanted pregnancy following an unprotected or nonconsensual sexual encounter. University students have a history of engaging in risky sexual behaviors, leading to unintended pregnancies among female undergraduates. This study assessed the utilization of emergency contraceptives (EC) among female college students in rural Ghana. Methods This quantitative cross‐sectional study was conducted among 310 female college students from two institutions – Midwifery Training College and the Tumu College of Education – located in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West region of Ghana. A structured questionnaire consisting of four sections was utilized as the data collection instrument. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the sociodemographic factors and knowledge level associated with emergency contraceptive utilization. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing SPSS v. 25.0 and STATA v. 14.0. Results 80.2% of students had heard of EC with the health worker (41.6%) and colleagues/friends (30.8%) being the most common sources of information. Overall, the majority of participants had good knowledge (78.2%) and good attitudes (77.8%) regarding EC practice. 52% had used EC before, with more than half (69.5%) utilizing levonorgestrel‐only pill the most. Good Knowledge (aOR: 4.46 [95%CI: 2.28‐8.72]; p < 0.001) and being in the Midwifery College (aOR: 1.96 [95%CI: 1.14‐3.38]; p = 0.015) were significantly associated with EC utilization. Conclusion Despite the majority of participants having heard of EC, most were not utilizing them appropriately due to a lack of detailed information and misconceptions. Health policymakers, heads of tertiary institutions, and educators should prioritize improving the educational curriculum and strengthening advocacy efforts in rural areas to address misconceptions and promote the benefits of EC, ultimately leading to better EC utilization and a reduction in unwanted pregnancies.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70575attitudeEmergency contraceptivesfemale college studentsknowledgepractices |
| spellingShingle | Muhusin Alhassan Yaa Nyarko Adjeso Clement Tiimim Yanbom Samuel Kwame Sopuruchi Agomuo Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study Health Science Reports attitude Emergency contraceptives female college students knowledge practices |
| title | Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full | Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_short | Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_sort | factors associated with the utilization of emergency contraceptives by female college students in rural ghana a cross sectional study |
| topic | attitude Emergency contraceptives female college students knowledge practices |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70575 |
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