Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Utilization of Emergency Contraception among Women of Reproductive Age in Abomsa Town, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia: (Research Article)

Abstract

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) refers to contraceptive methods that reduce the chance of pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse.  Almost every one of these deaths and disabilities could have been prevented through sexuality education, family planning, and the provision of safe, legal induced abortion and care for complications of abortion. Knowledge about methods of emergency contraception could reduce the level of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. Particularly, utilization of emergency contraception among women have beneficiary health outcome as it adds choice for helping sexually active women to avoid unintended pregnancy and abortion.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess knowledge, attitude and utilization of emergency contraceptive of women in Abomsa town in 2018.

Methods: Community based descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A systematic sampling technique was employed to select the study units (women of active reproductive age 15–35 years old) in which 413 participants was involved. Participants, for the in-depth interview was selected purposively. Data was entered using EPI Info version 3.5.1 and was analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated and ≤0.05 p-value was used to see association of dependent and independent variables.

Result: The age of students ranged from 15 to 49 years with median age of 29. Out of total respondents 284(72.3%) had ever had sexual experience. Total of one hundred ninety fife (49.6%) of respondents had ever heard about emergency contraception. One hundred twenty (61.5%) of them mentioned pills as method of EC and Sixty three (44.1%) of them identified 72hrs as recommended time limit for ECP. TV/Radio 71(36.4%) is major source of information. Of total respondents (61.6%) had positive attitude toward making EC available to all women while (76.1%) have an intention to use EC.

Conclusion: Knowledge and Utilization of Emergency contraception is very low. The awareness of time gap and type of EC is poor. Increasing awareness of EC and media coverage on EC including type and time gap of EC is essential.

Key Words: Assessment, Attitude, Emergency Contraception, Utilization, Abomsa