EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION POTENTIAL CLIENTS' AND PROVIDERS' PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraceptives can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, method failure and incorrect method use. Thus its introduction was a w elcome addition for the campaign against unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. OBJECTIVE: To assess potential clients' and providers' perspective to wards emergency contraceptives.

METHODS: Cross-sectional survey was conducted on July 2003. There were a total of 209 extension program female students in Jimma University main campus during the study period and all of them were included in the study. Self-administered questionnaire was used for Me data collection. Nine family planning service providers in Jimma town were participants for the in depth interview. In-depth interview was transcribed, coded and summarized manually by the Principal investigators.

RESULTS: Out of 180 female students forty students (22.8%) had ever heard of Emergency contraception. Only 25 students (13.9%) were able to mention at least one emergency contraceptive method. Only twenty-one (11.6 %) knew the correct timing that the method should be taken after u nprotected sexual intercourse. I n-depth interview revealed providers' uncertainty about existence of any national programme on emergency contraception, lack of adequate knowledge and experience on emergency contraception.

CONCLUSION: There is lack of adequate knowledge on emergency contraception among both potential clients and service providers. Thus there is a need to expand emergency contraception information and education through channels that could reach potential clients and build providers capacity through in-service and pre-service trainings.