Knowledge and use of emergency oral contraceptive pills in controlling unwanted pregnancies: case study of students of the university of Dar es Salaam

This study examines the knowledge and use of Emergency oral contraceptive pills (EOCP) in controlling unwanted pregnancies among students of the university of Dar es Salaam. The study emphasized the level of awareness and use of EOCPs among university students, methods most used to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and factors/barriers that hinder the use of EOCP in preventing unwanted pregnancies among university students. The study involved students aged 19 and above from University of Dar es Salaam, Ardhi University (ARU) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). The study employed quantitative methodology of data collection and analysis. It also used in-depth interview and documentary review as sources to complement the quantitative approach. The independent variables used to indicate the relationship between knowledge and the use of EOCP were age, sex, marital status, religion, programme of study and year of study. Findings show that out of 320 respondents interviewed only 13.4% of the respondents were aware of EOCP and most of them were 5th year students from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. However, postgraduate students also indicated being more knowledgeable than undergraduates. Furthermore, the study found that Knowledge increases with age. Likewise, few students (2.5%) reported to have used EOCP; these were mainly finalist (undergraduate) and postgraduate students although the latter indicated greater use than the former. The most used method to prevent pregnancies mentioned was the condom, used by single male, undergraduate and Christian students. Furthermore, inadequate knowledge and awareness among students were reported by 7.5% of respondents as factors hindering the use of EOCP. The study recommends that all universities should initiate special programme to promote the use emergency oral contraceptive pills. This can be done through their health education unit to targeted undergraduate students when arriving for the first time at the University of Dar es Salaam.