Author(s): Aderajew Nigussie Teklehaymanot
Background: Emergency contraceptive is contraceptive method that can be used by women in the first few days following unprotected intercourse to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Despite the availability of highly effective methods of contraception, many pregnancies are unplanned and unwanted. These pregnancies carry a higher risk of morbidity and mortality, often due to unsafe abortion. Many of these unplanned pregnancies can be avoided using emergency contraception. Besides, there is paucity of information on knowledge, attitude and practice of Jimma preparatory school female students related to emergency contraceptive. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice toward emergency contraception among female students of Jimma preparatory, school Jimma town, south-west Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted female students in Jimma preparatory school, Jimma town, south west of Ethiopia to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of EC. The source of population of this study was all (N=340) female students in grade 11 and 12 enrolled in the school during academic year 2013/14. The sample size was calculated on base of 95% level confidence and 5% level of precision. It was adjusted taking 5% non-respondents using single population proportion formula. Data was collected by interviewing the study subjects by using semi-structured questionnaire. Then the data were tallied, edited and analyzed. Then the data were presented in graphs and frequency tables and chi-square test and significant association was declared at p-value of <0.05 with 95% CI. Result: From 157 respondents about 137(87.26%) have ever heard about emergency contraception of which 52.2% has good knowledge about emergency contraceptive and; and only 11.46% of those who have practiced sex were used emergency contraceptive. Oral contraceptive pill was the most widely used 18(100%). Health professionals were the main source of information 138 (70.8%) Even though there is high awareness, there is a problem on timely using of the service and utilization of emergency contraceptive methods and unfavorable access to the service for school female students. Hence there is a need for collaborative effort to improve service quality and prevent female students from life threatening behaviors.
