Knowledge and attitudes of students of professional studies on oral emergency contraception

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Emergency contraception is a method which is used to prevent unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex. Students are vulnerable population because they are more prone to risk behavior related to reproductive health. Adolescent pregnancy affects health of both mother and child, and has a negative impact on social and mental well-being of adolescents, which can all be prevented by using of emergency contraception. AIM: To assess the attitudes and knowledge of students with regard to emergency contraception. Metods: In the cross-sectional study, an anonymous questionnaire was used among two groups of students (medical and non-medical science students). The data were analysed by program SPSS 14 for Windows. RESULTS: In group of medical science students 12,4% of respondents heard of emergency contraception, but they do not have enought information about it, while 27,4% of the other group give the same answer. Most frequent answer to a question in which cases they should use it, in both group is unprotected sex, shooting or falling a condom, or rape. About half of the respondents of both group does not know which are the negative effects of emergency contraceptive. 36% of the respondents in both groups consider that his/her partner would agree to use this type of contraception in case of unprotected sex. CONCLUSION: The results that medical science students know more about emergency contraception can be related to more lectures about reproductive health through education. However, it turned out that the respondents of both groups do not have enough knowledge on this topic.

Keywords

• emergency contraception
• students
• unwanted pregnancy
• reproductive health