Factors Associated with The Use of Emergency Contraceptives Among Females Aged 15-49 Years in The La-Bawaleshie Community, East Legon.

Abstract

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) is a method of contraception used to prevent unintended pregnancy that may occur after unprotected or under-protected sexual intercourse. The use of emergency contraception helps reduce the risk of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, and the incidence of unsafe abortions which is on the rise among young female adults in developing countries, including Ghana. The prevalence of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies remains high, particularly among young women, despite the advancement in contraceptive technology over the years. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the use of emergency contraceptives among residents of the La-Bawaleshie community in East Legon. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used for this study. Data was collected from 262 women in their reproductive age using self-administered questionnaires. The study examined the socio-demographic, economic, and knowledge-related factors associated with EC use. The data analyses were conducted using the STATA version 18 statistical software. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses were done to identify the statistically significant factors associated with EC use. Results: The prevalence of EC use was found to be 72.27%, with the majority of the users being between the ages of 15-24 years (64.32%), never married (75.68%), and had at least secondary level education (52.43%). The level of awareness was high (93.89%) but knowledge regarding the specific types of EC and its appropriate use was limited. Friends or relatives were the main sources of information, with those receiving information from such sources being more likely to use EC (63.78%). Sexual activity was strongly associated with EC use (p= 0.001). Educational level (p=0.01), age at first sexual activity (p= 0.01), awareness of EC (p= 0.001), and availability of EC (p= 0.001) were significantly associated with EC use. Conclusion: The prevalence of EC use was 72.27%. Source of information on EC, sexual activeness, educational level, age at first sex, and availability of EC were significantly associated with EC use. There is the need for targeted EC awareness campaigns and outreaches, increased availability of EC, and the integration of EC education into sexual and reproductive health programs.