Emergency Contraception and Fertility awareness among University Students in Kampala, Uganda
Josaphat K Byamugisha.

Florence M Mirembe¹, Elisabeth Faxelid² Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson³
¹Makerere University Faculty of Medicine, Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology
²Karolinska Institutet, Dept. of Public Health sciences
Division of International Health (IHCAR)
³Karolinska Institutet, Dept. of Woman and Child Health
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology

ABSTRACT
Background:Uganda has a high maternal mortality ratio with unsafe abortions being one of the major causes. Young people are particularly vulnerable to unsafe induced abortion with its sequelae. Emergency contraception (EC) may reduce unsafe abortions if
easily accessible and acceptable.

Objective: To determine knowledge about, ever use and attitudes towards EC among resident and non-resident female first year
university students in Kampala.

Methods: This Cross sectional study was carried out at Makerere University from January to March 2005.Out of 5971 females
admitted in the academic year 2004/2005,379 answered a self administered questionnaire. The students were approached individually
and given the questionnaire if they consented.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 21 years. Less than half (45.1%) had ever heard about emergency contraceptive pills
(ECPs).The most common sources of information about EC were friends (34%),media (24.8%) and schools (19.4%) .The ever
pregnancy rate was 3.4 percent and 42 percent were in a steady relationship of three or more months. The contraceptive ever-userate
was 14.5 percent. Among the users the most common methods were condoms (48.9%) and withdrawal (23.4%). Emergency
contraceptive pills had been used by seven students. Forty two percent did not know the time interval within which ECPs can work
and one third thought it would interrupt an ongoing pregnancy. Thirty five percent did not know when in the menstrual cycle they were
likely to conceive. The majority of the students were against over the counter (OTC) availability of EC because of fear of misuse.

Conclusions: Knowledge about Emergency contraception and fertility awareness is low among the female first year university students. Friends and the media are an important source of EC information. Awareness and knowledge of EC should be increased.

Key words: Emergency contraception, university students, Kampala