Factors Associated With the Utilization of Emergency Contraceptives by Female College Students in Rural Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Emergency contraception is a simple and safe method of preventing unwanted pregnancy following an unprotected or nonconsensual sexual encounter. University students have a history of engaging in risky sexual behaviors, leading to unintended pregnancies among female undergraduates. This study assessed the utilization of emergency contraceptives (EC) among female college students in rural Ghana.

METHODS

This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 310 female college students from two institutions - Midwifery Training College and the Tumu College of Education - located in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West region of Ghana. A structured questionnaire consisting of four sections was utilized as the data collection instrument. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the sociodemographic factors and knowledge level associated with emergency contraceptive utilization. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing SPSS v. 25.0 and STATA v. 14.0.

RESULTS

80.2% of students had heard of EC with the health worker (41.6%) and colleagues/friends (30.8%) being the most common sources of information. Overall, the majority of participants had good knowledge (78.2%) and good attitudes (77.8%) regarding EC practice. 52% had used EC before, with more than half (69.5%) utilizing levonorgestrel-only pill the most. Good Knowledge (aOR: 4.46 [95%CI: 2.28-8.72];  < 0.001) and being in the Midwifery College (aOR: 1.96 [95%CI: 1.14-3.38];  = 0.015) were significantly associated with EC utilization.

CONCLUSION

Despite the majority of participants having heard of EC, most were not utilizing them appropriately due to a lack of detailed information and misconceptions. Health policymakers, heads of tertiary institutions, and educators should prioritize improving the educational curriculum and strengthening advocacy efforts in rural areas to address misconceptions and promote the benefits of EC, ultimately leading to better EC utilization and a reduction in unwanted pregnancies.