Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives among Clinical Sciences Students, University of Bradford, UK
Emily Davison *
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
Md. Anwarul Azim Majumder
Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, West Indies
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practice of Clinical Sciences students at the University of Bradford, UK towards Long-acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) of LARC among Clinical Sciences students at the University of Bradford, UK during Jan-Feb 2016. Female students of all stages (Foundation year, Year 1 to Year 3; n=228) of Clinical Sciences Department were invited to participate in the study. A self-completed paper-based questionnaire was developed by the researcher and 147 questionnaires were completed.
Results: Low uptake of LARCs (10.2%) and knowledge of contraceptive efficacy were found. Students reported contraceptive efficacy as the most important factor considered for contraceptive choice. Students were highly likely to use emergency contraception (78.9%) but unlikely to terminate an unwanted pregnancy (39.5%).
Conclusion: Students’ knowledge of contraception requires improvement to maximise the uptake of LARCs and thus student welfare. Further research is also required.
Keywords: Sexual behaviour, contraception, LARCs, university students, UK