Knowledge and Attitude Toward Emergency Contraceptive Pills Among First-Year Undergraduate Students in Southern Thailand
Abstract Background: The objective of this study was to investigation of the knowledge and attitude towards emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) among first-year undergraduate students in a university in Thailand.Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was performed using the developed questionnaires that was validated by four experts. The questionnaires were distributed to all the first-year students in the university via an online platform. The characteristic data were descriptively analyzed and the knowledge data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and one-way ANOVA.Results: A total of 335 students who responded to the questionnaires and met the eligible criteria for the study was analyzed. The mean knowledge score of all respondents was 7.76±0.15 out of 15. The most correct-answered questions were the questions relating to efficacy and safety of ECPs in pregnant women (78.5% and 72.2% corrected, respectively). On the contrary, the least correct-answered questions were about the ECP regimens and using ECPs instead of combined oral contraception (COC) (30.4% and 34.9%, respectively). In addition, the results indicated that experience in using ECPs and in ECP education were significant factors in high scores of knowledge. Moreover, most respondents trusted and would like to receive the information on ECPs from health professionals in hospitals, academic institutions, or pharmacies.Discussion: The average knowledge of ECPs of first-year students in a university in Thailand was at a moderate level. More knowledge about the regimens of the drug and using ECPs instead of COC should be advised to students, particularly at the university or pharmacies, and should be done by healthcare staff.