Background: Globally, university students fall in the youth
group prone to unattended sexual risks
which may lead to unwanted pregnancy and STI/HIV. In Cameroon, more than
a third of maternal deaths occur among adolescent girls and young mothers. Unwanted
pregnancies results from the infrequent use of modern contraceptive methods and
is one of the main causes of death in this population. Condoms are barrier
contraceptive that have a beauty of dual protection-against pregnancy and
transmission of STI/HIV, meanwhile emergency contraceptives has just one
function which is protection against unwanted pregnancy. Aim: To assess
the perception of condoms and emergency contraceptive pill use among students
in the university of Bamenda, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: A university-based
cross-sectional study was conducted among students in the University of
Bamenda, North West Region of Cameroon, a cosmopolitan area approximately about
19km from Bamenda main town (Commercial Avenue). The
study was carried out over a period of three months. Data were collected using
a structured interviewer questionnaire administered through Google form. Data
collected were extracted into excel sheet and analysed with SPSSv23. Results: The study included 719 students (318 males and 401 females). The rate of male
and female condom use was 28.5% and 8.1% respectively. The mean age of our
study populations was 24.5 ± 4.97 years with 52.7% of population between 20 to
24 years of age. Knowledge about condoms was high at 98.3%, however, 91.9% of
participants have never used the female condoms before. Highest factor recorded
for non-utilisation of the male and females condoms were reduction in sexual
pleasure(47.4%) and lack of knowledge on usage(44.1%) respectively. 95% of students have knowledge
on Emergency Contraceptive Pills(ECPs) but just an average(52.4%) have used it before. Fear of side effects
(47.4%) was the main reason for not using ECPs. Conclusion: There is a
very high
References
[1]
Simegn, A., Tiruneh, D., Seid, T. and Ayalew, F. (2020) Contraceptive Demand, Utilization and Associated Factors among University Female Students in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Open Access Journal of Contraception, 11, 157-165. https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S267966
[2]
UNFPA (2014) UNFPA Annual Report 2013. United Nations Population Fund.
https://www.unfpa.org/publications/unfpa-annual-report-2013
[3]
World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific. (2016) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 3. Target 3.7: By 2020, Ensure Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health-Care Services, including for Family Planning, Information and Education, and the Integration of Reproductive Health into National Strategies and Programmes. WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/208285
[4]
World Health Organization (2022) Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis)
[5]
Lun, C.N., Aung, T. and Mya, K.S. (2021) Utilization of Modern Contraceptive Methods and Its Determinants among Youth in Myanmar: Analysis of Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015-2016). PLOS ONE, 16, e0258142.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258142
[6]
World Health Organization (2011) The Sexual and Reproductive Health of Younger Adolescents in Developing Countries: Research Issues in Developing Countries: Background Paper for Consultation. World Health Organization.
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44590
[7]
Guleria, S., Juul, K.E., Munk, C., Hansen, B.T., Arnheim-Dahlstr?m, L., Liaw, K.L., et al. (2017) Contraceptive Non-Use and Emergency Contraceptive Use at First Sexual Intercourse among Nearly 12 000 Scandinavian Women. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 96, 286-294. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13088
[8]
Benagiano, G., Bastianelli, C. and Farris, M. (2006) Contraception Today. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1092, 1-32.
https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1365.002
[9]
Jackson, R.A., Schwarz, E.B., Freedman, L. and Darney, P. (2003) Advance Supply of Emergency Contraception: Effect on Use and Usual Contraception—A Randomized Trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 102, 8-16.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(03)00478-2
[10]
Camp, S.L., Wilkerson, D.S. and Raine, T.R. (2003) The Benefits and Risks of Over-the-Counter Availability of Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraception. Contraception, 68, 309-317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2003.08.011
[11]
CDC (2021) Condom Fact Sheet in Brief.
https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/brief.html
[12]
Cuningham, K. Condoms and Prevention of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
https://www.metrohealthandwellness.com/blog/condoms-and-prevention-of-stis-sexually-transmitted-infections
Wang, H., Long, L., Cai, H., Wu, Y., Xu, J., Shu, C., et al. (2015) Contraception and Unintended Pregnancy among Unmarried Female University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from China. PLOS ONE, 10, e0130212.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0130212
[16]
Onebunne, C. and Bello, F. (2019) Unwanted Pregnancy and Induced Abortion among Female Undergraduates in University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 36, 238-242.
https://doi.org/10.4103/TJOG.TJOG_35_19
[17]
Bongfen, M.C. and Abanem, E.E.B. (2019) Abortion Practices among Women in Buéa: A Socio-Legal Investigation. Pan African Medical Journal, 32, Article 146.
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2019.32.146.17732
[18]
Tebeu, P.M., Pierre-Marie, T., Halle-Ekane, G., Gregory, H.E., Da Itambi, M., Maxwell, D.I., et al. (2015) Maternal Mortality in Cameroon: A University Teaching Hospital Report. Pan African Medical Journal, 21, Article 16.
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2015.21.16.3912
[19]
Todd, N. and Black, A. (2020) Contraception for Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology, 12, 28-40.
https://doi.org/10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2019.2019.S0003
[20]
Felix, E., Esther, M., Suzanne, S., Gregory, A., Gertrude, J.E.M. and Robinson, M.E. (2019) Determinants of the Use of Modern Contraceptive Methods among Adolescents and Young Girls at the University of Yaounde I. Clinical Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, 5, 1-5.
https://www.oatext.com/determinants-of-the-use-of-modern-contraceptive-methods-among-adolescents-and-young-girls-at-the-university-of-yaounde-i.php https://doi.org/10.15761/COGRM.1000267
[21]
Darroch, J.E., Woog, V., Bankole, A. and Ashford, L.S. (2016) Adding It up: Costs and Benefits of Meeting the Contraceptive Needs of Adolescents.
https://www.guttmacher.org/report/adding-it-meeting-contraceptive-needs-of-adolescents
[22]
Cleland, J., Bernstein, S., Ezeh, A., Faundes, A., Glasier, A. and Innis, J. (2006) Family Planning: The Unfinished Agenda. The Lancet, 368, 1810-1827.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69480-4
[23]
Oranu, E.O., Woruka, P.A. and Nonye-Enyindah, E. (2020) Evaluation of Condom Use among University Undergraduates in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 8, 31-41. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2020.85004
[24]
Issah, H., Salifu, A. and Awal, I. (2022) Knowledge of Contraceptives, Knowledge of Types, and Identified Challenges to Contraceptives Use among Undergraduate Nursing Students in the University for Development Studies. Open Access Library Journal, 9, e8530. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108530
[25]
Nyambura, M.G., Kiarie, J.N., Orang’o, O., Okube, O.T. (2017) Knowledge and Utilisation of Emergency Contraception Pills among Female Undergraduate Students at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 7, 989-1005. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2017.79100
[26]
Roberts, C., Moodley, J. and Esterhuizen, T. (2004) Emergency Contraception: Knowledge and Practices of Tertiary Students in Durban, South Africa. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 24, 441-445.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01443610410001685619
[27]
Sui, A.O., Brown, W. and Li, Q. (2017) Contraceptive Practice in Sub-Saharan Africa. Population and Development Review, 43, 166-191.
https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12051
[28]
Donatus, L., Sama, D.J., Tsoka-Gwegweni, J.M. and Cumber, S.N. (2018) Factors Associated with Adolescent School Girl’s Pregnancy in Kumbo East Health District North West Region Cameroon. Pan African Medical Journal, 31, Article 138.
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2018.31.138.16888
