Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Background Globally, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions are prevalent among young and unmarried women aged 18 years and above. Existing evidence shows widespread use of emergency contraception pills (ECP) may significantly reduce induced abortion-related morbidity and mortality. T...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Makhdoomi Printers
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://nicpd.ac.in/ojs-/index.php/gjmedph/article/view/4133 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850187640538660864 |
|---|---|
| author | Angel A Ng’unda Mariana J Mung’au Gloria E Foya Jamida J Mateni Bernard Njau |
| author_facet | Angel A Ng’unda Mariana J Mung’au Gloria E Foya Jamida J Mateni Bernard Njau |
| author_sort | Angel A Ng’unda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background
Globally, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions are prevalent among young and unmarried women aged 18
years and above. Existing evidence shows widespread use of emergency contraception pills (ECP) may significantly
reduce induced abortion-related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge,
attitudes, and practice regarding ECP among female undergraduate students aged 15 years and above at a Medical
University in Moshi Municipality in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
Methods
Using a descriptive cross-sectional study design with multistage random sampling, semi-structured questionnaire
data were collected among 314 female students at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) from
July 2024 to August 2024.
Results
Three hundred and fourteen (314) participants were enrolled (response rate 100%). The median age was 22 years
(Interquartile range (IQR)= 2 years), the majority, 302 (96.2%) were in the age group of 15-25 years old, 309, (98.4%),
were unmarried, 218, (69.4%)were Christians,169(53.8%) were enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine program, 44%
(n=138/314), had had a sexual experience, and 60% (83/138) had their sexual debut between 14-19 years old. The
majority, 87.9% (276/314), had heard about ECP, and 72% (198/276) mentioned the internet as the main source of
information on ECP. More than half of participants, 58.8 %(n=168/287), had a high level of knowledge of ECP. More
than half of participants, 54.4% (n=156/287), had positive attitudes towards ECP. 62%(85/138), had used ECP in the
past, and predictors associated with ECP practices at multivariate analysis include social acceptability for female
students to use ECP (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.10 [95 % Confidence interval (CI) 1.00-4.31; P= 0.05], intention
to use ECP in the future (AOR=3.01[2.30-8.64]; P=0.000), adequate knowledge of ECP (AOR=6.70[2.80-16.0];
P=0.000), fear of side effects as a barrier to ECP use (AOR=0.23[0.11-0.48]; P= 0.05), and the belief that ECP can
prevent STD (AOR = 0.32[0.12-0.85]; P=0.02).
Conclusion
Female graduate students had a high level of knowledge, and a positive attitude towards ECP, with the internet as
the main source of information. Adequate level of knowledge, social acceptability of female students to use ECP,
and intention to use ECP in the future are positively associated with ECP practices. Participants who reported fear
of side effects of ECP, and the belief that ECP can prevent STDs, are less likely to use ECP. Despite a high level of
knowledge and positive attitude towards ECP, reinforcing the respondent’s knowledge of specific details of ECP
such as mechanism, efficacy, and typology may be beneficial for improving ECP practices among female
undergraduate students at KCMUCo in Moshi Municipality.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6240dd07c184e0eae71bd9bab67296a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2277-9604 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Makhdoomi Printers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6240dd07c184e0eae71bd9bab67296a2025-08-20T02:16:03ZengMakhdoomi PrintersGlobal Journal of Medicine and Public Health2277-96042025-04-011401Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, TanzaniaAngel A Ng’undaMariana J Mung’auGloria E FoyaJamida J MateniBernard Njau Background Globally, unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions are prevalent among young and unmarried women aged 18 years and above. Existing evidence shows widespread use of emergency contraception pills (ECP) may significantly reduce induced abortion-related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding ECP among female undergraduate students aged 15 years and above at a Medical University in Moshi Municipality in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Methods Using a descriptive cross-sectional study design with multistage random sampling, semi-structured questionnaire data were collected among 314 female students at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) from July 2024 to August 2024. Results Three hundred and fourteen (314) participants were enrolled (response rate 100%). The median age was 22 years (Interquartile range (IQR)= 2 years), the majority, 302 (96.2%) were in the age group of 15-25 years old, 309, (98.4%), were unmarried, 218, (69.4%)were Christians,169(53.8%) were enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine program, 44% (n=138/314), had had a sexual experience, and 60% (83/138) had their sexual debut between 14-19 years old. The majority, 87.9% (276/314), had heard about ECP, and 72% (198/276) mentioned the internet as the main source of information on ECP. More than half of participants, 58.8 %(n=168/287), had a high level of knowledge of ECP. More than half of participants, 54.4% (n=156/287), had positive attitudes towards ECP. 62%(85/138), had used ECP in the past, and predictors associated with ECP practices at multivariate analysis include social acceptability for female students to use ECP (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.10 [95 % Confidence interval (CI) 1.00-4.31; P= 0.05], intention to use ECP in the future (AOR=3.01[2.30-8.64]; P=0.000), adequate knowledge of ECP (AOR=6.70[2.80-16.0]; P=0.000), fear of side effects as a barrier to ECP use (AOR=0.23[0.11-0.48]; P= 0.05), and the belief that ECP can prevent STD (AOR = 0.32[0.12-0.85]; P=0.02). Conclusion Female graduate students had a high level of knowledge, and a positive attitude towards ECP, with the internet as the main source of information. Adequate level of knowledge, social acceptability of female students to use ECP, and intention to use ECP in the future are positively associated with ECP practices. Participants who reported fear of side effects of ECP, and the belief that ECP can prevent STDs, are less likely to use ECP. Despite a high level of knowledge and positive attitude towards ECP, reinforcing the respondent’s knowledge of specific details of ECP such as mechanism, efficacy, and typology may be beneficial for improving ECP practices among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in Moshi Municipality. https://nicpd.ac.in/ojs-/index.php/gjmedph/article/view/4133Cross-sectional study, female undergraduate students, Contraception knowledge, Contraception practices, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| spellingShingle | Angel A Ng’unda Mariana J Mung’au Gloria E Foya Jamida J Mateni Bernard Njau Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health Cross-sectional study, female undergraduate students, Contraception knowledge, Contraception practices, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title | Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_full | Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_short | Level of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at KCMUCo in the Moshi Municipality, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_sort | level of knowledge attitude and practice regarding emergency contraception pills among female undergraduate students at kcmuco in the moshi municipality kilimanjaro tanzania |
| topic | Cross-sectional study, female undergraduate students, Contraception knowledge, Contraception practices, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| url | https://nicpd.ac.in/ojs-/index.php/gjmedph/article/view/4133 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT angelangunda levelofknowledgeattitudeandpracticeregardingemergencycontraceptionpillsamongfemaleundergraduatestudentsatkcmucointhemoshimunicipalitykilimanjarotanzania AT marianajmungau levelofknowledgeattitudeandpracticeregardingemergencycontraceptionpillsamongfemaleundergraduatestudentsatkcmucointhemoshimunicipalitykilimanjarotanzania AT gloriaefoya levelofknowledgeattitudeandpracticeregardingemergencycontraceptionpillsamongfemaleundergraduatestudentsatkcmucointhemoshimunicipalitykilimanjarotanzania AT jamidajmateni levelofknowledgeattitudeandpracticeregardingemergencycontraceptionpillsamongfemaleundergraduatestudentsatkcmucointhemoshimunicipalitykilimanjarotanzania AT bernardnjau levelofknowledgeattitudeandpracticeregardingemergencycontraceptionpillsamongfemaleundergraduatestudentsatkcmucointhemoshimunicipalitykilimanjarotanzania |