Abstract:
Introduction: Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are oral contraceptive pills that a woman can
take within 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse to reduce her risk of
becoming pregnant. Although not as effective as a regular method, this emergency
contraception can prevent unwanted pregnancy among women who have been
sexually assaulted, experienced a contraceptive failure, forgotten to use a regular
contraceptive method or used it incorrectly.
Objectives: To determine the perspectives on the utilization of Emergency Contraceptives
among female students of middle level public colleges in Eldoret Municipality,
Kenya.
Study area: Middle Level Public Colleges in Eldoret Municipality: Eldoret
polytechnic and Rift Valley Technical Institute.
Study design This was a cross sectional study design where the interaction with the
respondents took place once and generated information about perspective on
utilization of emergency contraceptive pills among female students.
Study population: Female college students above 18 years from both the
institutions Eldoret Polytechnic and Rift Valley Technical Institute.
Sampling procedure: Stratified random sampling was applied to the selected
sample of 329 from the study population of 2,298 who were stratified per their year
of study. Simple random sampling was then applied to each strata (year of study).
Data collection : The survey was conducted using semi structured questionnaire
among 329 female students of both institutions that were selected proportional to
the size of number of female students and six FGDS were held to complement the
self administered questionnaires.
Results: Out of the total 329 female college students 174(53%) were aware of emergency
contraceptives pills There was significant association between age and awareness of
emergency contraceptives. Specific knowledge on the correct timeframe and correct
drug composition was low with 18% and 23% respectively. The most common
source of information on ECPs was female friends.57% had
positive attitude in terms of willing to recommend ECP to a friend. Utilization of
emergency contraceptive was low with 35% indicating that they ever used
emergency contraceptive pills, and private pharmacy was the most used source for
emergency contraceptives pills.
Conclusion: Basic awareness of emergency contraceptive was low, for those who were aware
specific knowledge regarding correct time limit, drug composition was poor,
Majority of students had positive attitude and were willing to recommend ECP to a
friend. Utilization of emergency contraceptive was low. Private pharmacy was the
most used source of purchase.
Recommendation: The government and the private stakeholders should design strategies to provide
appropriate information and improve access to ECP s in the country in general and
colleges in particular to enhance the appropriate awareness of EC among young
women. There is need for, promotion and enhancement of peer education and
counseling on emergency contraceptives among students of college institutions.