Laura M Miller1. 1. Department of Health and Physical Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA 16444, USA. lmmiller@edinboro.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study explored male and female college students' knowledge of and attitudes toward emergency contraception pills (ECPs). STUDY DESIGN: A survey of 692 undergraduate college students (338 male and 358 female) was conducted at a mid-size university in northwest Pennsylvania during the Spring 2008 semester. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent of the participants had experienced sexual intercourse, and 52% of them had feared a pregnancy at least once. Only 17% of the participants indicated prior use of ECP. Seventy-four percent of the students had heard of emergency contraception (EC); however, less than one-third knew the prescription status, common side effects or mechanisms of ECP. Only 16% of the participants knew that ECP was available at their college health center. Fifty percent of the students reported that they would feel comfortable using ECP, and 58% felt that ECP should be available without a prescription. CONCLUSIONS: College students' knowledge level about EC is poor. There is a clear need for ECP as a pregnancy prevention method among college students and for better education about it.
BACKGROUND: This study explored male and female college students' knowledge of and attitudes toward emergency contraception pills (ECPs). STUDY DESIGN: A survey of 692 undergraduate college students (338 male and 358 female) was conducted at a mid-size university in northwest Pennsylvania during the Spring 2008 semester. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent of the participants had experienced sexual intercourse, and 52% of them had feared a pregnancy at least once. Only 17% of the participants indicated prior use of ECP. Seventy-four percent of the students had heard of emergency contraception (EC); however, less than one-third knew the prescription status, common side effects or mechanisms of ECP. Only 16% of the participants knew that ECP was available at their college health center. Fifty percent of the students reported that they would feel comfortable using ECP, and 58% felt that ECP should be available without a prescription. CONCLUSIONS: College students' knowledge level about EC is poor. There is a clear need for ECP as a pregnancy prevention method among college students and for better education about it.
Authors: Anthony Idowu Ajayi; Ezebunwa Ethelbert Nwokocha; Oladele Vincent Adeniyi; Daniel Ter Goon; Wilson Akpan Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-06-02 Impact factor: 2.655