Knowledge, Attitude and Age Factors Affecting the Use of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives among Postgraduate Students at a Tertiary Institution in Greater Manchester, England, UK

Abstract

Long-acting contraception (LARC) is the utmost effective form of reversible birth control methods and there are to main types which include the intrauterine device (IUD) and the birth control implant. The objectives of this paper was to  investigate the knowledge ,attitude and age factors of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) among postgraduate students at a tertiary institution in greater machester, England, UK using an online participatory survey,opned to the general public through internal email and social  media (Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook). Targeting 322 female postgraduate students between 21-50 years.  However, only 50 participants took part in the survey due to the limitations posed by COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that there were more participants between 31-40 years (42.9%), more married women (49.0%), more Christians (59.2%), and an equal number of White and black Africans (44.9%). The percentages of women who have heard about LARC include; implants (87.8%), injectables (85.7%), Intrauterine devices (72.9%), and hormonal intrauterine system (58.3%). Some of the participants showed positive attitudes towards LARC, while majority of the participants would not use LARC because of the side effects. Most of those who have used implants and injectables were women between 21-30 years, and older women have used intrauterine devices more than the younger age group. Some barriers to the use of LARC include; Side effects of LARC (63.8%), Interference with the body’s processes(63%), and lack of knowledge  about  different methods available(54.3%),having a foreign object in their bodies (59.1% for injectables) and (53.2% for implants).