KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS AMONG FEMALE NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS MEMBERS SERVING IN IBADAN NORTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) can be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. They are required in a setting like Nigeria where Unintended Pregnancy (UP) is common among young females. Few studies have focused on the problem of UP among females on national service; hence the need to identify the practices encouraging UP. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge and use of ECPs among female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Ibadan North-west Loot Government Area. This descriptive cross-sectional survey employed stratified random sampling technique using the period of deployment as basis for stratification. Simple random sampling was used to proportionately select 388 female NYSC members drawn from three batches A (25.0%), B (43.0%) and C (32.0%). A self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on respondents' socio-demographic characteristics. Sexual Behaviour (SB) knowledge and use of ECPs. Knowledge was measured on a 10-point scale; scores of <4. 4-6 and >6 were rated poor, fair and good, respectively. Use of ECPs was classified as ever used and never used while SB was categorised as ever had or never had Sexual Intercourse (SI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression tests at p=0.05. The respondents age was 24.9±2.3 years, 78.0% were Yoruba, 83.0% were single and 79.4% were University graduates. About two-third (61.9%) had heard of ECPs, friends (42.0%) and internet (28.0%) were the main sources of information. Respondents' knowledge score was 5.2±2.1 with 26.7%, 53.8% and 19.6% having good, fair and poor knowledge, respectively. Sixty percent had had SI; out of this proportion, 95 (41.0%) had ever used ECPs. Of the 232 respondents that have ever had SI, 54.7% did so during the Service Year (SY). Respondents (28.0%) who were sexually active used ECP during the SY. Seventy-five percent of the respondents who had UP resulted to induced abortion. Thirty-four respondents who had used ECP during SY experienced no challenges relating to procurement of the commodity. Among the respondents who had ever had SI, only 36.8% stated that they were willing to use ECP whenever the need arises. Major reasons adduced by respondents who were willing to use ECP were fear of side effects (54.2%) and infertility (31.9%). Knowledge of ECP was not associated with respondents' age and marital status. In addition, there was no significant relationship between SB during SY and knowledge of ECP. University graduates were two times more likely to have used ECPs than Polytechnic graduates (OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-4.2). Respondents with good knowledge of ECP were almost ten times more likely to use ECPs (OR: 9.5: 95% CI: 2.5-35.7). Despite the fact that respondents were sexually active, knowledge of emergency contraceptive pills was fair and its use was low among female youth corpers in lbadan North-West Local Government Area. Contraceptive education with emphasis on emergency contraceptive pills is needed to improve their knowledge and promote its use among female youth.