Levels and Predictors of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Contraception Among Female TV Studies Undergraduates in Nigeria: Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Access to contraception is a preventive measure against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections; especially in sub-Saharan Africa where unmet need is a public health concern.

Objective: This study assessed the levels and predictors of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding contraception among female TV studies students in Nigeria.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among female students of NTA TV College, Nigeria. Categorical sociodemographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice were presented as frequencies and proportions, while the continuous variables were presented as summary measures of central tendencies and dispersions. The primary outcome variable was the practices regarding contraception, while attitude and knowledge were secondary outcome variables, with sociodemographics as covariates. Predictors of good knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding contraception were determined by multivariable binary logistic regression, which was preceded by a bivariate regression analysis to determine candidate variables for the final model. A P value <.05 was determined to be statistically significant.

Results: There were 217 study participants with an average age of 22 (SD 2.6) years. Levels of good knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding contraception were reported in 55.3% (n=120), 47.5% (n=103), and 50.7% (n=110) of participants, respectively. The majority have had sex, used friends and the internet as their main sources of contraceptive information, and commonly used contraceptives such as condoms and oral contraceptive pills. The most common reason for not using contraceptives was fear of side effects or health risks. Being a young adult was a significant predictor (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.7; P=.04) of good knowledge, while being a diploma student (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.6; P=.01), living off campus (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.4; P=.04), and good knowledge (aOR 3.8, 95% CI 2.1-6.9; P<.001) were significant predictors of good attitude. Being from the state's indigenous population (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.6; P=.01) and having engaged in sex (aOR 24.5, 95% CI 7.9-75.7; P<.001) were significant predictors of good contraception use.

Conclusions: Our study has shown relatively low levels of good knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding contraception and their predictors. Therefore, there is an urgent need to consistently improve advocacy, curricular development, and policies to improve knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding contraception and sexual and reproductive health services among young people.