ABSTRACT

Background of the Study: The rising incidence of high-risk sexual behavior among adolescents, with females becoming sexually active by the age of 18 years, contributes to the global health challenge of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Addressing this issue requires improving women's knowledge and attitudes towards emergency contraceptives. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a health awareness programme targeting undergraduate female students in selected non-paramedical colleges in Gujarat, India. Material & Method: Using a quantitative research approach and a pre-experimental research design, the investigator employed stratified random sampling to select 320 undergraduate female students from the identified colleges in Gujarat. Data collection involved administering knowledge questionnaires and Likert scale assessments to gauge the participants' knowledge and attitudes towards emergency contraceptives. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including Standard Deviation, t-test, Chi-square, and Cronbach's alpha test, were used to analyze the data. Result: The results demonstrated a significant improvement in post-test mean knowledge and attitude scores compared to pre-test scores. The calculated "t" value forknowledge was 13.902, exceeding the tabulated value of 3.323 at a 0.05 level of significance. Similarly, the "t" value for attitude was 9.769, surpassing the tabulated value of 1.660 at a 0.05 level of significance. Furthermore, a positive correlation of 0.72 was found between knowledge and attitude scores. This study indicates that the health awareness programme was effective in enhancing the participants' understanding of emergency contraceptives and fostering positive attitudes towards their usage. Conclusion: The present study reinforces the positive impact of health awareness programmes on emergency contraception among undergraduate female students. By enhancing knowledge and cultivating positive attitudes towards emergency contraceptives, such interventions play a pivotal role in reducing the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies and contributing to the overall well-being of women in society. Keywords: Emergency contraceptives, Health awareness programme, Undergraduate female students
Publication date: 15/12/2023

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2023/December/MS_IJBPAS_2023_DECEMBER_SPCL_1033.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2023/12.12.1033