What do family planning clients and university students in Nairobi, Kenya, know and think about emergency contraception?

Currently, emergency contraception is seldom used in Kenya. As part of a larger study designed to provide insight into the possible roles for the method in Kenya, we assessed the knowledge of and attitudes towards emergency contraception in two groups of potential users, and we focus on these data specifically in this paper. We interviewed clustered samples of clients at ten family planning clinics in Nairobi (n = 282) and conducted four focus group discussions with students at two universities in Kenya (n = 42). Results show that despite relatively low levels of awareness and widespread misinformation, when the method was explained, both clients and students expressed considerable interest, but also expressed some health and other concerns.

Emergency contraception in Nairobi, Kenya: knowledge, attitudes and practices among policymakers, family planning providers and clients, and university students.

To gauge knowledge, attitudes, and practices about emergency contraception in Nairobi, Kenya, we conducted a five-part study. We searched government and professional association policy documents, and clinic guidelines and service records for references to emergency contraception. We conducted in-depth interviews with five key policymakers, and with 93 family planning providers randomly selected to represent both the public and private sectors. We also surveyed 282 family planning clients attending 10 clinics, again representing both sectors. Finally, we conducted four focus groups with university students. Although one specially packaged emergency contraceptive (Postinor levonorgestrel tablets) is registered in Kenya, the method is scarcely known or used. No extant policy or service guidelines address the method specifically, although revisions to several documents were planned. Yet policymakers felt that expanding access to emergency contraception would require few overt policy changes, as much of the guidance for oral contraception is already broad enough to cover this alternative use of those same commodities. Participants in all parts of the study generally supported expanded access to emergency contraception in Kenya. They did, however, want additional, detailed information, particularly about health effects. They also differed over exactly who should have access to emergency contraception and how it should be provided.

PIP: A five-part study was conducted to gauge knowledge, attitudes, and practices about emergency contraception (EC) among policymakers, family planning providers and clients, and university students in Nairobi, Kenya. Government and professional association policy documents, and clinic guidelines and service records were searched for references to EC. In-depth interviews were conducted with 5 key policymakers, and with 93 family planning providers randomly selected to represent both the public and private sectors. Furthermore, 282 family planning clients attending 10 clinics were also surveyed and four focus groups were conducted with university students. Although one specially packaged EC was registered in Kenya, the method was scarcely known or used. No extant policy or service guidelines address the method specifically, although revisions to several documents were planned. Yet policymakers felt that expanding access to EC would require few overt policy changes, as much of the guidance for oral contraception was already broad enough to cover this alternative use of those same commodities. Participants in all parts of the study generally supported expanded access to EC in Kenya. They did, however, want additional detailed information, particularly on the health effects of EC. They also differed on who should have access to EC and how it should be provided.

Kenyan university students' views on AIDS.

In view of the rapidly increasing number of AIDS cases reported in Kenya since 1984, a survey was conducted among Kenyatta University undergraduate students during October and November 1988 to gauge their knowledge, attitudes and practices with regard to the disease. A random sample of 344 individuals both men and women was interviewed. The results showed that almost everyone had heard about AIDS and the knowledge was spread evenly across gender. Although the students were able to identify the symptoms of a full blown AIDS victim, their knowledge on HIV was vague. Other findings were: that condoms were lowly rated as a strategy for minimizing the risk of contracting AIDS and the majority of the students attempted to reduce the chance of contracting the disease by having one sex partner. However, the students were apathetic about contracting the disease. In the event of becoming victims of AIDS, most of them indicated that they would not merely wait to die; instead they would commit suicide. In view of these findings, there is a case for educating this group on how to respond to the AIDS infection.

PIP: During October-November 1988 in Kenya, 344 undergraduate male and female students at Kenyatta University completed a questionnaire designed to determine their knowledge, attitude, and practices towards AIDS. This survey also aimed to shed some light on the success of the media campaign launched in February 1988. 98% were familiar with AIDS. Men and women were equally familiar with AIDS. The leading sources of information on AIDS were newspapers (166) and radio (123). Most students knew that weight loss was a symptom of AIDS. Many also knew that coughing was a symptom. Students had vague knowledge of HIV. Students tended to know that AIDS is transmitted through heterosexual intercourse. Men were more likely to have sexual experience than women (72% vs. 28%). The most common way the students would reduce the risk of contracting AIDS was having 1 sex partner (204 students). Few students (44) would use a condom. Creating awareness (174) was the leading way society should fight AIDS. Only 25 students mentioned condom use as a way to prevent AIDS. Most students (60%) thought that persons with AIDS should be quarantined. Most students had an apathetic attitude if they themselves had AIDS. The leading responses to what the students would do if they learned that they had AIDS included wait to die (193) and commit suicide (120). 20% would not help a family member with AIDS and would let him/her die. These findings suggest that, even though almost everyone knew about AIDS, their misperceptions about and attitudes towards persons with AIDS reflect a need for more information on AIDS prevention and on dealing with HIV infected persons. The Ministry of Health needs to put more effort into counseling AIDS patients and to reduce the hopelessness and stigmatizing of persons with AIDS.