ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate the general knowledge, attitude and practice of Emergency Contraception (EC) among female students at Kampala International University-Western Campus. METHOD: A questionnaire was constructed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of EC. There were 217 female students approached and each filled a questionnaire which was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of EC. RESULTS: 67% of the female students knew about ECs while 33% didn’t know. Majority 40% obtained the information from health education/lecture. Those that knew about EC where assessed further for knowledge attitude and practice. The generally knowledge about EC was fair at 47%. The attitude toward EC was positive and the practice of EC was generally low at only 4%. There was a significant number of students with poor knowledge about EC of 31%. CONCLUSION: The general level of knowledge about ECs was fair. The general attitude of students towards ECs was positive. The practice of EC was low at only 4%. This study will help policy-makers by providing evidence-based knowledge to promote EC use among university students. Keywords: Female student, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Emergency contraception
Table of Contents
DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................................... i
SUPERVISOR’S APPROVAL .................................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................. vi
ACKNOLWEDGMENT............................................................................................................................. vii
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................................... viii
LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................... ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................1
1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................1
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT.................................................................................................................3
1.3 OBJECTIVES.....................................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 BROAD OBJECTIVE .................................................................................................................3
1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................3
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS.................................................................................................................3
1.5 JUSTIFICATION ...............................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW...............................................................................................5
2.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Knowledge about emergency contraception .......................................................................................5
2.3 Attitude towards emergency contraception.........................................................................................6
2.3 Practice of emergency contraception ..................................................................................................6
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................................8
3.1 STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................................................8
3.2 STUDY DESIGN................................................................................................................................8
3.3 STUDY POPULATION .....................................................................................................................8
3.4 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION .................................................................................................8
3.5 SAMPLING METHOD ......................................................................................................................8
3.6INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA ...................................................................................9
3.7 STUDY LIMITATIONS.....................................................................................................................9
3.8 DATA ANALYSIS.............................................................................................................................9
3.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................................9
3.10 DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS...................................................................................................9
3.11 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS......................................................................................................9
iv
CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS ....................................................................................................................10
4.1 Participation rate ...............................................................................................................................10
4.2 Demographic distribution .................................................................................................................10
4.3 Knowledge about emergency contraception .....................................................................................10
4.4 Attitude towards emergency contraception.......................................................................................11
4.5 Practice of emergency contraception ................................................................................................11
FIGURE 1: Religious distribution of respondents..................................................................................12
FIGURE 2: Distribution of respondents according to year of study.......................................................13
FIGURE 3: Distribution of awareness about emergency contraception .................................................14
TABLE 1: Age distribution of respondents............................................................................................15
TABLE 2: Source of information about emergency contraception ........................................................15
TABLE 3: Methods used in emergency contraception. ..........................................................................16
TABLE 4: Distribution of respondents according to knowledge about emergency contraception.........16
TABLE 5: Attitude of respondents towards emergency contraception ..................................................17
FIGURE 4; Comparing year of study and level of knowledge about emergency contraception ............18
CHAPTER FIVE DISCUSION ..................................................................................................................19
5.1 Knowledge about emergency contraception .....................................................................................19
5.2 Attitude towards emergency contraception.......................................................................................19
5.3 Practice of emergency contraception ................................................................................................19
5.4 Limitations of study ..........................................................................................................................20
5.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................20
5.7 Recommendations.............................................................................................................................20
REFERENCES ...........................................................................................................................................21
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................24
APPENDIX I; CONSENT FORM..................................................................................................................24
APPENDIX II: QUESTIONIER.............................................................................................................25
APPENDIX II; BUDGET.......................................................................................................................27
APPENDIX III; Map of Uganda showing location of Bushenyi district................................................28
APPENDIX IV; Map of Bushenyi District.............................................................................................29
APPENDIX V; Map of Ishaka showing Kampala International University Western Campus. .............30
APPENDIX VI; TIME FRAME. ............................................................................................................31