Factors that influence utilization of emergency contraceptives among female undergraduate students, University of Kabianga, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Higher rates of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies occur amongst university age women, with majority of them being unplanned. Emergency contraception comprises drugs with various dosages or intrauterine devices used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or after a recognized contraceptive failure.
Objective: This study sought to determine the influence of socio demographic factors on Emergency Contraceptives utilization among female undergraduate Students at University of Kabianga, Kenya.
Methods: A cross sectional study was employed and stratified random sampling was used to determine the selected sample. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. Univariate analysis was used for different quantitative variables and results presented using frequency tables, pie diagrams and bar charts. Bivariate analysis was used to determine the test of association between demographic factors, knowledge, attitude and the use of Emergency Contraceptives using chi-square test at 5% significance level. In Multivariate analysis the independent determinants of knowledge, attitude and emergency contraceptive utilization were established using logistic regressions.
Results: Out of the 154 respondents majority were aged between 22 and 23 years (37%). Majority of the respondents were single at (77.9%). A total of 113(73.4%) respondents were sexually active with majority of them using EC with a prevalence rate of 70%. More than half of the respondents were rated as knowledgeable at (53.2%) though very few were able to identify IUCD at (1.9%) as an EC. There was a favorable attitude (71.4%) towards EC. There was statistical association between utilization of EC and age of the respondents (p=0.015) and between utilization of EC and year of the study (p=0.002) The results for the logistic regression analysis indicated that a unit increase in age would lead to a unit decrease in attitude by 7.3%, a unit increase in the year of study would lead to a unit increase in attitude by 2.4%.
Conclusion: It was concluded that factors that influenced the uptake of emergency contraceptives were age and the year of study. It was recommended that students joining universities require enhanced health education on sexuality and proper use of emergency contraceptives so as to enable them make informed decisions when need arises.