KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZATION OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES

ABSTRACT

Birth control, also known as contraception, ant conception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unintended pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only became available in the 20th century Contraception is important for the prevention of unintended pregnancies worldwide. Many contraceptives also have other medical benefits, such as decreasing endometrial and ovarian cancer risk or regulating the pain and bleeding of menstruation. Unintended pregnancy followed by unsafe abortion, its complication and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be avoided by using the different contraceptive methods. Information on knowledge, attitude and utilization of contraceptives among females is particularly important because of the high rates of teenage/adolescent unwanted pregnancies as well as soaring STI and HIV.AIDS rates.. This study accessed the knowledge and utilization of contraceptive methods among female undergraduates at the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS) in the University of Benin. A cross-sectional survey design was used; the research was carried out and completed at the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS) in the University of Benin in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The target population of this study was female undergraduates between aged 18 to 30 at the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS), Result showed that the level of knowledge on contraceptive methods was moderate (64.9%) among female undergraduate students. Among the contraceptive methods, knowledge on male condoms seems to be highest among the students followed by oral contraceptive pills and the injectable. The level of utilization of contraceptives among undergraduates found in this study was high (90.2%). In addition, the findings revealed that there was no significant difference in the knowledge of contraceptive of female students of different age categories (X2= 0.652; p value = 0.75>0.).