Abstract:
Emergency contraception is a method of contraception used after intercourse and before the potential time of implantation offers. It is a last chance to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse unlike the regular methods of contraception that are taken before sexual contact. However, little is known about the extent of magnitude and factors associated with use of EC among higher institutions female students in Ethiopia. Objective: Magnitude/ status of emergency contraceptive use and associated factors among female students in Dire Dawa University, eastern Ethiopia from February 20 to March 30, 2018. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among regular undergraduate‟s female students in Dire Dawa University from February, 20 to March, 30 2018. The study population were all regular Undergraduate female students in Dire Dawa University. The total sample size for the study was 1559 by taking the design effect of 1.2 and adding 10% for non-response rate among these only 672 sexually active students were screen for analysis. Data collected using structured questionnaire. SPSS version 22 was employ for analysis. Logistic regression was calculated to show the association between dependent and independent variable. The results presented in tables, graphs and charts. Result: A total of 1521 students were participated in the study with overall response rate was 97.62%. Among the total study participants 672 (44%) were sexually active. More than three fourth 586/672(87.2%) of the respondents heard about emergency contraceptive of which Two- third 290(43.2%) the respondent‟s were knowledgeable. Two- third 291/672(43.3%) of the respondents had positive attitude towards emergency contraceptive. Among sexually active students 216/672(32.14%) ever used EC in their life time among this 190(28.27%) students were used EC within the past 12 months. Age [AOR: 0.6; 95% CI= (0.4, 0.9], Year of study [AOR = 0.4, 95%CI =0.2, 0.8], Respondents fathers educational status[AOR: 1.6, 95% CI =1.0, 2.5], having experiences of contraceptive use [AOR: 3.5; 95% CI=2.2, 5.6], had history of pregnancy [AOR: 1.2; 95% CI= (1.1, 3.0] and having awareness about EC [AOR=24.3; 95% CI =3.3, 178.9].
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Conclusion: Awareness of emergency contraceptive among female regular undergraduate students in Dire Dawa University high, but utilization of emergency contraceptive low and most of respondent‟s attitude toward emergency contraceptive were negative
