Emergency Contraceptive Pill Use Among Female Adolescents

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among 1,434 female teenage students at educational institute in Mahasarakham Province and aimed to study emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) use and determine the relationship among related factors and the emergency contraceptive pills use. Data were collected using interview questionnaire. Statistical analysis such as frequency, percentage, Chi-square, Odds Ratio and multiple logistic regressions were used. The results revealed that the 65.06% of the teenagers had heard of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). The majority of them were between 19-22 years (64.52%), and 27.26% had experience of using ECPs. Most of them received information from friends (63.99%). One third of their friends or known persons (35.69%) had previously used ECPs. There were some common misperception among the subjects, i.e., 38.48% believed that emergency contraceptive pills could prevent pregnancy, 100%, and 56.06% believed that ECPs could prevent pregnancy with the same efficacy as oral contraceptive pills. Pills were always used when having intercourse for 58.30% with the average of 3.45 tablets/month. About 41.70% used ECPs because it is easy to purchase. The highest pills used came from friends advice (78.38%). More than half (56.37%) arrange ready pills before having sexual intercourse, only ECPs used 40.54%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that pill cost and friends or known persons having previously used ECPs were significantly associated with emergency contraceptive pills used (p \< 0.05). The more increase in age the more association of those variables with emergency contraceptive pills used increased.It can be concluded that ECPs have the highest usage among teenagers. ECPs are easy to purchase, and buyers have been influenced by their friends who suggest pills usage. In addition teenagers still have misunderstandings about ECPs utilisation. So, it is necessary to give them the correct information by the responsible organizations.