Perception of Condoms and Emergency Contraceptive Pill Use among Students in the University of Bamenda ()
Affiliation(s)
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
2Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
3Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Cameroon.
ABSTRACT
Background: Globally, university students fall in the youth
group prone to unattended sexual risks
which may lead to unwanted pregnancy and STI/HIV. In Cameroon, more than
a third of maternal deaths occur among adolescent girls and young mothers. Unwanted
pregnancies results from the infrequent use of modern contraceptive methods and
is one of the main causes of death in this population. Condoms are barrier
contraceptive that have a beauty of dual protection-against pregnancy and
transmission of STI/HIV, meanwhile emergency contraceptives has just one
function which is protection against unwanted pregnancy. Aim: To assess
the perception of condoms and emergency contraceptive pill use among students
in the university of Bamenda, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: A university-based
cross-sectional study was conducted among students in the University of
Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon, a cosmopolitan area approximately about
19 km from Bamenda main town (Commercial Avenue). The
study was carried out over a period of three months. Data were collected using
a structured interviewer questionnaire administered through Google form. Data
collected were extracted into excel sheet and analysed with SPSSv23. Results: The study included 719 students (318 males and 401 females). The rate of male
and female condom use was 28.5% and 8.1% respectively. The mean age of our
study populations was 24.5 ± 4.97 years with 52.7% of population between 20 to
24 years of age. Knowledge about condoms was high at 98.3%, however, 91.9% of
participants have never used the female condoms before. Highest factor recorded
for non-utilisation of the male and females condoms were reduction in sexual
pleasure (47.4%) and lack of knowledge on usage (44.1%) respectively. 95% of students have knowledge
on Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) but just an average (52.4%) have used it before. Fear of side effects
(47.4%) was the main reason for not using ECPs. Conclusion: There is a
very high knowledge about condom and
emergency contraceptive pill among students. However, the rate of usage
recorded was very low with highest source of information being the
media/internet and lowest among relatives/family.
Share and Cite:
Takang, W. , Tanah, A. , Pisoh, W. and Atanga, M. (2023) Perception of Condoms and Emergency Contraceptive Pill Use among Students in the University of Bamenda.
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
13, 589-608. doi:
10.4236/ojog.2023.133051.
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