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Background <p>Emergency contraception (EC) is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, but its use requires good knowledge and a positive attitude. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and experience of EC among female students of childbearing age at the University of Sierra Leone.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional study was conducted at the three colleges of the University of Sierra Leone: Fourah Bay College, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, and the Institute of Public Administration Management. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the 320 female undergraduate students. Knowledge about EC was measured and scored as “good knowledge” and “poor knowledge”. An independent sample t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge score, with statistical significance shown from a p-value &lt; 0.05. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 21.</p> Results <p>The mean age of the participants was 24.1 years. More than half of the participants (58.9%) had good knowledge of EC, with significant differences in knowledge scores observed by age and academic discipline. Older students (25–64 years) scored higher (M = 63.26, SD = 21.92) than younger students (18–24 years) (M = 55.93, SD = 21.56; <i>p</i> = 0.003). Health science students also demonstrated greater knowledge (M = 70.25, SD = 25.35) compared to non‑health science students (M = 55.42, SD = 19.95; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Most of the respondents (85.6%) were sexually active, and more than half of them had previously used EC, in the form of I-pills (99.5%). Only 7.8% reported experiencing an unintended pregnancy. While 65.9% believed EC to be safe, misconceptions persisted: 54.4% viewed EC as a form of abortion, 56.9% considered it sinful, and 63.2% believed it promotes promiscuity.</p> Conclusion <p>More than half of the students demonstrated good knowledge of emergency contraception, with higher scores among older and health science participants. Misconceptions about safety and morality remain widespread. Expanding tailored education, peer‑led initiatives, and integrating sexual health into non‑health science curricula, alongside accessible and respectful services and community engagement, is essential to dispel myths, reduce stigma, and promote informed use among young women.</p>

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Cross-sectional study on the knowledge, attitude, and experience of emergency contraception among female students of the University of Sierra Leone

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Michael Lahai,
  • Isha Abie Kamara,
  • Ahmed Vandy,
  • Eugene Conteh,
  • Mohamed Bawoh,
  • Marie Kolipha-Kamara,
  • Foday Marah,
  • Mohamed H. Samai

摘要

Background

Emergency contraception (EC) is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, but its use requires good knowledge and a positive attitude. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and experience of EC among female students of childbearing age at the University of Sierra Leone.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the three colleges of the University of Sierra Leone: Fourah Bay College, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, and the Institute of Public Administration Management. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the 320 female undergraduate students. Knowledge about EC was measured and scored as “good knowledge” and “poor knowledge”. An independent sample t-test was used to determine the significant difference between the socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge score, with statistical significance shown from a p-value < 0.05. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 21.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 24.1 years. More than half of the participants (58.9%) had good knowledge of EC, with significant differences in knowledge scores observed by age and academic discipline. Older students (25–64 years) scored higher (M = 63.26, SD = 21.92) than younger students (18–24 years) (M = 55.93, SD = 21.56; p = 0.003). Health science students also demonstrated greater knowledge (M = 70.25, SD = 25.35) compared to non‑health science students (M = 55.42, SD = 19.95; p < 0.001). Most of the respondents (85.6%) were sexually active, and more than half of them had previously used EC, in the form of I-pills (99.5%). Only 7.8% reported experiencing an unintended pregnancy. While 65.9% believed EC to be safe, misconceptions persisted: 54.4% viewed EC as a form of abortion, 56.9% considered it sinful, and 63.2% believed it promotes promiscuity.

Conclusion

More than half of the students demonstrated good knowledge of emergency contraception, with higher scores among older and health science participants. Misconceptions about safety and morality remain widespread. Expanding tailored education, peer‑led initiatives, and integrating sexual health into non‑health science curricula, alongside accessible and respectful services and community engagement, is essential to dispel myths, reduce stigma, and promote informed use among young women.