Prevalence of emergency contraceptive use and associated determinants among Senior High Students in Yendi Municipal of Northern Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Background: Unplanned conceptions are major causes of septic abortions among young adolescents in Ghana. unwanted pregnancy continuous to be a public health threat despite efforts that has been made in attaining healthy lives and promoting well-being for all as spelt out in sustainable development goal 3. However, emergency contraceptive could be critical in mitigating unwanted pregnancies and associated consequences. This empirical study sort to examine prevalence and associated determinants of emergency contraceptive use among senior high students in Northern Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study design with quantitative approach was used in the study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data collection was carried out electronically using mobile phones via a link developed from kobocollect tool box. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software (IBM-SPSS) Version 21. Monotonic data transformation enabled us to carry both descriptive and inferential analysis. Results were presented in tables and charts. A test of association was carried out to determine the relationship between demographic characteristics and the use of emergency contraceptives at 95% confidence level with p<0.05 using Chi-square test statistic. Cramer’s V was used to determine the strength of association of the variables. A binary logistic regression model was used to examine the extent of statistical association between emergency contraceptive use and its determinants. Results: Majority of the study participants were 16-19 years representing 405(77.3%) and those who were 10-15 years were 119(22.3%). Emergency contraceptive was 30%. Religion(p<0.0001), ethnicity (p<0.0001), educational level (p<0.0001) and program (p<0.0001) had significant association with emergency (EC) use. The use of EC adjusting for shyness in purchasing emergency contraceptive (AOR = 2.04 [95%CI (1.22–3.71), p< 0.020], Partner`s approval (AOR = 1.72 [95%CI (1.03–2.88), p< 0.039], unwanted pregnancy (AOR = 1.83 [95%CI (1.15-2.90), p<0.012], and attitude of health care professionals towards emergency contraceptive provision (AOR = 2.138 [95%CI (1.32–3.47), p<0.002] remained significant determinants of the use of emergency contraceptive and are approximately two times more likely to influence the use of emergency contraceptives. Conclusion: Shyness in purchasing emergency contraceptive, Partner’s approval,unwanted pregnancy and attitude of health care professionals towards emergency contraceptive service were statistically significant determinants of the use of emergency contraceptive. However, knowledge, personal reasons and side effects were insignificant with the binary regression model. Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the Ghana education service should enhance and expand the current Accelerating Social and Behavior Change Activity (ASBC) on family planning in the senior high schools since they are sexually active and have inadequate knowledge on family services available to them.