Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the utilization of contraceptives and associated factors among students of
Kampala International University-Western Campus Ishaka, Bushenyi District, Uganda. A descriptive crosssectional
study design was used. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 136 final-year students
from the School of Allied Health Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Faculty of Business and
Management. The majority 112 (82.4%) of the respondents reported that they had ever used contraceptives and 95
(69.9%) reported that they were currently using contraceptives. The majority 118(86.6%) of the participants have
ever had sex and among them, half 59(50.0%) had their first sex when they were above 20 years. The majority
81(68.6%) reported that they first used contraceptives when they were above 20 years and the type of contraceptives
they used was condoms (52.5%). Most 66(48.5%) of the participants always use contraceptives while 59 (43.4%)
seldom use and 56 (41.1%) of them stated that they use contraceptives when their partners are in their unsafe days.
Concerning the knowledge about contraceptives, most 51(37.5%) reported that contraceptives are important to
prevent pregnancies, and STDs and to promote child spacing. Most 51(37.5%) of the participants preferred to use
condoms while 37(27.2%) preferred to use safe day methods. Regarding their reasons for their preferred
contraceptives, 55(40.4%) said because they were affordable and 15(36.6%) indicated that their reason for not using
contraceptives is to enjoy sex. Stakeholders should design, launch and implement inclusive youth-friendly services,
adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs prioritizing the use of contraceptives, students’ empowerment
in regard to sexual rights and reproductive health, behavioural change communications, and create an enabling
environment for contraceptive use.
Keywords: Sexual intercourse, Unintended pregnancy, Contraceptives, Condoms.