This poster was presented at the 8th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights.

Background

The emergency contraception is a useful method of family planning method after unprotected intercourse to reduce the chance of unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. Unwanted pregnancy which may lead to unsafe abortion is common among young women. Emergency contraception adds an important option for helping sexually active adolescents avoid unintended pregnancy. The prevention of unintended pregnancy in turn prevents the risks that adolescent pregnancy poses for mother and child, including abortions.

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge on emergency contraception among the students attending University of Distance Education and staying in the Private hostels.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 295 students attending University of Distance Education and staying in the private hostels. Study participants were selected by simple random sampling. The respondents who gave informed consent were provided with questionnaires. Data was collected by pre-tested and self-administered questionnaires.

Results

The findings of the study revealed that 239 respondents (81%) had ever heard about EC. The forty-three point five percent of the respondents got the general information about emergency contraception from medical sources and forty-six point four percent could mention the trade name or brand name of emergency contraceptive pills. Only one point six percent of the respondents could describe the different method of emergency contraception apart from the emergency contraceptive pills. In this study, more than half of the respondents answered important time to use emergency contraceptive pills was unprotected sexual exposure. Although combined oral contraceptive pills can be used as emergency contraception in alternative ways when emergency contraceptive pills are not easily available, (19.3%) reported that the oral contraceptive pills cannot be used as emergency contraception. The correct timing of effectiveness of post coital pills (up to 120 hours after unprotected intercourse) was identified by majority of the respondents. The recommended hours between the two doses of emergency contraceptive pills for taking (12 hours apart) was correctly identified by the (23.8%) of the respondents. Showing the answers of respondents (32.2%) on emergency contraceptive pills is a method of early abortion; the respondents had having false beliefs on emergency contraceptive pills. And (17.2%) of the respondents believed that the emergency contraceptive pills can protect STIs. Among socio-demographic characteristics, race was significantly associated with knowledge level (p<0.05). Although there was no statistically significant association, (16 to 20 years) age group had 2.5 times higher knowledge than other age groups. And also, there were (1.6) time higher knowledge level in male respondents than the female respondents. Opportunely, the first year students had higher knowledge level than other academic years. Among the 239 subjects, (42.7%) of the respondents had high knowledge about the emergency contraception.

Conclusion

There were low level of awareness about emergency contraception and some misbelieves and misconceptions about emergency contraceptive pills and oral contraceptive pills. With better education through Audio-Visual media and University lecture adding with reproductive health issues and discussion among students with medical personnel, more effort should be exerted towards improving the awareness of emergency contraception among the University students.