KNOWLEDGE STATUS ABOUT FERTILE PERIOD AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF GAMBELLA TEACHERS’ EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCIENCE COLLEGE

Abstract

Background: fertile period is the point during a woman’s menstrual cycle at which she is able to become pregnant. Identification of the fertile period of has great role in preventing unwanted pregnancy and in achieving pregnancy. However, there is limited evidence regarding the knowledge of female students about fertile period of their menstruation cycle in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the knowledge status about fertile period and its associated factors among female students in Gambella Teachers’ Education and Health Science College from March 01-30/2016. Method: - Institutional based cross-sectional study was deployed and data was collected using self administered questionnaire. Data was entered into EpiData version 3.1 and then exported and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results of the study participants were described and presented by using frequencies, summary measures, and tables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the knowledge about their fertile period. Significance was obtained at adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI and p< 0.05. Results: Two hundred thirty one (76.7 %) of the study participants have ever had history of sexual intercourse, 53.2% of which were with casual boyfriends. Out of the total study participants who stated ever having sexual intercourse, about one fourth, 55(23.8%), had never used modern contraceptives. The proportion of students who know the fertile period of their menstrual cycle was 23.3% (95% CI: 22.4%, 32.5%). Students class by year [AOR= 6.72, 95%: (1.51, 29.99)], students chance of getting pregnancy [AOR= 4.32, 95% CI: (1.63, 11.45)] and number of sex partners in the past twelvemonths 86% [AOR=0.14 95% CI: (0.03, 0.60)] were less likely and significantly associated with knowledge of about fertile period. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study finding showed that nearly 75% of the students were non-knowledgeable about the fertile period of menstruation. Consequently, better sexual and reproductive health programs and strategies should be designed and appropriately implemented in order to increase the students’ knowledge about their fertile period.