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Emergency Contraception: A Wareness And Knowledge Among Hospital Workers In Abuja, Nigeria


ER Efetie
AC Umezulike
CO Agboghoroma
MN Ewuze-Wokocha

Abstract

A cross sectional descriptive survey of awareness and knowledge of emergency contraception among medical/paramedical and non-medical workers was carried out in the National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria.

Most of the hospital workers were not aware of emergency contraceptive methods. 59.9% were not aware of emergency contraceptive pills, while 81.4% were not aware of the use of intrauterine contraceptive device. Medical and Paramedical workers show more awareness about emergency contraception than non-medical workers (P<0.001; X2=36.3). Of those aware of emergency contraceptive pills, 58% were correct in its timing of use, while 37.5% of those aware of the use of intrauterine contraceptive device were correct in its timing of use, while 37.5% of those aware of the use of intrauterine contraceptive device were correct in its timing.

There is a need to inform and educate hospital workers and the general public on emergency contraception. This can be achieved through incorporation of contraceptive education in school curricular and continuing education programmes for medical and paramedical staff. The non-medical workers and other members of the society should be educated through co-ordinated information, education and communication activities.

KEY WORDS: Emergency Contraception, Emergency Contraceptive, Pills, Intrauterine Contraceptive Device, Hospital Workers, Awareness, Knowledge.

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.5(2) 2002: 99-102

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2229-7731
print ISSN: 1119-3077