Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Contraceptive use among Students of a Health Training institution in the North-east Region of Ghana

Edem Kojo Dzantor, Abigail Serwaa, Abidatu Mahama, Valentine Ayangba, Yaa Nyarko Agyeman, Margaret Wekem Kukeba, Huzematu Abdul-Karim, Doreen Remember Donkor, Martin Nyaaba Adokiya

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research · pp. 248–258 · Published 22 Aug 2022

10.9734/jammr/2022/v34i2131544

Abstract

Background: Despite contraceptive awareness and availability to the general population, including higher education institutions, unplanned pregnancies continue to increase. Aim: The study assessed contraceptive usage among female health students in the North-East Region, Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional studydesign was used to assess contraceptive use among 143 female health students. The data was collected using an online survey, analysed descriptively, Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The age ranged from 18 and 36 years, with a mean age of 23.7 (Sd±2.82) years, and the majority (69.9%) were in the 21-25 years age category. The mean age of first sexual intercourse was 17.8 (Sd ±5.65) years. The overall prevalence of contraceptive use was 59.0% with ever and current users being 47.6% and 35.,7% respectively. The male condom was a commonly used contraceptive (53.6%). Using the Chi-square test, we found significant differences between current contraceptive use and age at first sexual intercourse (X2=15.42, p=0.009), protection during first sexual intercourse (X2=7.30, p=0.026), current relationship status (X2=15.12, p<0.001), and multiple sexual partners (X2=10.25, p=0.001). Being in a sexual relationship (OR=4.49, 95%CI: 1.61, 12.50, p=0.004) was positively associated with current contraceptive use. Prevention of unwanted pregnancy/birth was the common reason for contraceptive use, with fear of perceived side effects as the reason for non-use of contraceptives.   Conclusion: Overall, the study found high contraceptive use with significant discontinuation among ever and current users. There is a need for public health education and promotion programmes to increase the acceptance and use of contraceptives among the study population and the public.

Modern contraceptives sexual intercourse students pregnancy higher institutions Ghana

Cited by 1

1 citation reported by external sources — individual citing-article records aren't available to list yet.

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

1

Page views

0

PDF downloads

0

Outbound clicks

1

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.