Knowledge and Use of Emergency Contraceptives among Female Undergraduate Students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria

Unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion constitute a major challenge to the reproductive health of young women in developing countries. Emergency Contraceptives (EC) offer a second chance in preventing unwanted pregnancy and otherreproductive health consequences.Thisstudy was conducted to assess the knowledge and use of emergency contraceptives among female undergraduate students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among female undergraduate students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria in 2017. Respondents were selected using stratified sampling technique and a self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. The mean knowledge score was 8.7 (SD 1.5), and respondents who scored higher were categorized as having good knowledge. Association between variables was determined using the Chi square test at the 5% level of significance. The mean age of respondents was 20.1(SD 2.2 years). Majority (97.1%) were never married. Sixty-five percent of respondents were aware of EC and friends (52.0%) were the commonest source of information. Sixty percent of respondents had good knowledge of EC. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 18.4 (2.0 years). Only 16.9% had ever used EC, and pharmacy (11.4%) was the commonest place of purchase. About sixty-four percent used EC during their last sexual intercourse and Postinor © (13.7%) was the commonest type used. Respondents who had good knowledge of EC were more likely to have used EC in their last intercourse p<0.05. Respondents had good knowledge and low use of emergency contraceptives. There is a need to improve knowledge and promote use of EC among sexually active adolescent girls to prevent unwanted pregnancy and abortion.