World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE ON DUAL CONDOM AND NON-BARRIER CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS ON FEMALE SOCIAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AT MEKELLE UNIVERSITY.

Bethlehem Feleke*, Professor Yemane Birhane, Ewnat Gebrehanna, Molla Teferi

ABSTRACT

Problem statement: Significant number of university students is not protected from double burden of unprotected sexual relationship. They face multiple threats to their sexual and reproductive health. Having the information on the knowledge and practice of dual condom and non-barrier contraceptive methods among female university students will help to design a preventive mechanism to decrease incidence of unwanted pregnancy & STI because these problems are major threats of this social group. Objective: the main objective of this study is to assess knowledge and practice of dual condom and non-barrier contraceptive method among female students at Mekelle University, Adi-haki Campus. Method: A cross sectional quantitative study with internal comparison using self-administered questionnaire was employed among female Mekelle University, Adi-haki Campus, students. This study was conducted between October, 2011 and April, 2012. Result: 83.5% of the students were knowledgeable about preventing both pregnancy and STI at the same time but among those who ever experienced sexual intercourse only 7(5%) of them used the dual protection consistently. Having relatively higher pocket money was positively associated with dual protection method knowledge. Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge of the students about preventing both pregnancy and STI at the same time is adequate. But the use of dual condom and non-barrier contraceptive method by the students was unsatisfactory. Monthly income of the students was positively associated with knowledge of preventing both pregnancy and STI. Recommendation: The University needs to strengthen the clinic health education method through peer group discussion, youth friendly clinics, anti AIDS club and poster and leaflet presentations to bring behavioral change and increase the practice of dual protection.

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