Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Female Students (18-49) Years) Towards Emergency Contraceptive Pills Utilization at Lusaka apex medical university, Lusaka. Zambia

Introduction: Emergency contraception (EC) is a method used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, following incorrect use or failure of regular contraceptive methods, including cases of sexual assault where no contraceptive protection was used. The widespread availability of emergency contraception in middle‑income nations like Zambia offers an effective means of preventing a large proportion of unintended pregnancies. The aim of this study was to establish the level of knowledge, attitude and perception of female students (18-49) towards emergency contraceptive pill utilization at Lusaka Apex Medical University. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and perception of female students (18-49) towards emergency contraceptive pill utilization at Lusaka Apex Medical University. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 230 respondents to participate in the study. The ethical approval was obtained from The University of Zambia Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (REF. No. 5593-2024), and Lusaka Apex Medical University respectively. Primary data was collected from 230 study participants using structured questionnaire with closed ended questions. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 29 and MS excel and was presented using tables and pie charts. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude and perception parameters. Results: The study found that, the largest age group among the participants was 41-49 years, comprising 30% of the sample, while the smallest age group was 21-30 years, accounting for 22.17%. In addition, the study disclosed that, most of the respondents (70%) at Lusaka Apex Medical University possessed an adequate level of knowledge regarding the utilization of emergency contraceptive pills, whereas 30% exhibited inadequate knowledge on the subject. Age (p < 0.003), marital status (p < 0.004), religion (p < 0.001), level of education (p < 0.000), occupation (p < 0.000) and number of children (p < 0.000) were found to have significant association with level of knowledge on emergency contraceptive pill utilization among female students at Lusaka Apex Medical University. Apart from that, the study also revealed that most of the respondents (71.8%) had positive attitudes towards emergency contraceptive pills utilization at Lusaka Apex Medical University in Zambia. In addition, 28.2% of study participants had negative attitudes towards emergency contraceptive pills utilization. The study further exposed that, a good proportion of study participants (65%) had a positive perception of emergency contraceptive pills utilization, in contrast to 35% who held negative perceptions. Conclusion: The study concludes that female students at Lusaka Apex Medical University generally demonstrate adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and favorable perceptions toward the utilization of emergency contraceptive pills. However, notable proportions of participants still exhibited inadequate knowledge, negative attitudes, and unfavorable perceptions, indicating existing gaps. Therefore, the researcher recommends that Lusaka Apex Medical University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Education, and international partners such as WHO and UNESCO, strengthens and institutionalizes targeted reproductive health promotion programs on emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) utilization. These programs should integrate comprehensive health education, social mobilization, health communication, peer education, and counseling to enhance knowledge, promote informed decision-making, and foster positive perceptions of ECP use among female students in institutions of higher learning. Additionally, the introduction of community discussions and campus-based health forums is recommended to address misconceptions and shift negative perceptions toward ECP utilization.