Abstract

Emergency contraception is used as an emergency procedure to prevent unintended pregnancy after an unprotected sexual intercourse and method failure. This study assessed knowledge and utilization of emergency contraception among certificate female nursing
students of Kampala International University, western campus. A descriptive cross-sectional
study was conducted among female nursing students of Kampala International University in
August 2016. Participants were sampled using systematic sampling technique. Pre-tested,
self-administered questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data was entered and
analyzed using Microsoft excel programme. Results were presented using descriptive
statistics, frequencies and percentages. A total of ninety-six (96) volunteered certificate
nursing female students participated in the study. Seventy-six (79%) of the female certificate
nursing students ever heard of emergency contraceptives (EC), only 8(11%) used/or ever used
the method. The commonest source of information was formal health education (71%). EC
are indicated in preventing pregnancy post rape (29%), failure of barrier method (24%),
missing of oral contraceptives (20%); and should be initiated within 24 hours (43.4%). In
addition, students knew that ECs do not terminate pregnancy if the woman is already
pregnant (68%), are available not only by prescription (74%), effective when taken
immediately (50%) and do not protect and prevent STD (88%). The present study shows that
knowledge of emergency contraceptives among certificate female nursing students of
Kampala International University is high though utilization of the method is still very low despite some having unintended pregnancies. Evidently, there is a need for carefully designed educational programmes and promotion of EC in student health care centers in the campus.