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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practice of emergency contraception among university students in Cameroon
BMC Emergency Medicine, Volume 7, Article 7, Year 2007
Notification
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Description
Background: Unsafe abortion is a major public health problem in low-and-middle income countries. Young and unmarried women constitute a high risk group for unsafe abortions. It has been estimated that widespread use of emergency contraception may significantly reduce the number of abortion-related morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and experiences on emergency contraceptive pills by the university students in Cameroon in order to develop and refine a national health programme for reducing unwanted pregnancies and their associated morbidity and mortality. Methods: A convenient sample of 700 students of the University of Buea (Cameroon) was selected for the study. Data was collected by a self-administered, anonymous and pre-tested questionnaire. Results: The response rate was 94.9% (664/700). General level of awareness of emergency contraceptive pills was 63.0% (418/664). However, knowledge of the general features of emergency contraceptive pills was low and misinformation was high among these students. Knowledge differed according to the source of information: informal source was associated with misinformation, while medical and informational sources were associated with better knowledge. Although the students generally had positive attitudes regarding emergency contraceptive pills, up to 65.0% (465/664) believed that emergency contraceptive pills were unsafe. Those with adequate knowledge generally showed favourable attitudes with regards to emergency contraceptive pills (Mann-Whitney U = 2592.5, p = 0.000). Forty-nine students (7.4%) had used emergency contraceptive pills themselves or had a partner who had used them. Conclusion: Awareness of emergency contraception pills by Cameroonian students is low and the method is still underused. Strategies to promote use of emergency contraception should be focused on spreading accurate information through medical and informational sources, which have been found to be reliable and associated with good knowledge on emergency contraceptive pills. © 2007 Kongnyuy et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Kongnyuy, Eugene Justine
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Ngassa, Pius Chanchu
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Fomulu, Nelson J.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Wiysonge, Charles Shey
South Africa, Tygerberg
South African Medical Research Council
Kouam, Luc
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Doh, Andersen Sama
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Statistics
Citations: 12
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-227X-7-7
e-ISSN:
1471227X
Research Areas
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Cameroon
Participants Gender
Female