Female Students Perception on Emergency Contraception at Lilongwe Technical College
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Date
2009-12-04
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Unwanted pregnancy followed by unsafe abortion can be avoided by using different contraceptive methods, including emergency contraceptives. Information on knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraceptives among women is particularly important because of high rates of teenage and unwanted pregnancies as well as soaring STI and HIV/AIDS rates. This is a qualitative study, whose purpose was to assess female student's perception on emergency contraception. The study was done at Lilongwe Technical College. The study was guided by the health promotion model (HPM) by Pender. The specific objectives of the study were: to assess student's knowledge on emergency contraception, to describe accessibility of emergency contraception among female students, to assess the attitude of female students on emergency contraception and to assess utilization of emergency contraceptives among female students. Ten female students were recruited for the study using purposive type of sampling. In depth interviews were done to collect data. An interview guide was used to collect information and data was analyzed through content analysis. Before embarking to the research, permission was granted by the College Research and Publication Committee. Permission was granted by Lilongwe Technical College principle to carry out the research at the College. Study findings showed that many students were aware of contraceptives in general and not emergency contraception. The low knowledge on emergency contraceptives was contributed by lack of information as in regards to emergency contraception. It has been recommended that Government should open up more youth friendly services. This will help the youth to access information pertaining to reproductive health, hence reducing the incidences of unwanted pregnancies.