Knowledge and attitudes on unsafe abortions among the state university undergraduates in Western Province

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To describe the knowledge and attitudes on unsafe abortions among undergraduates in the state universities of the Western Province. METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 1575 second and third year undergraduates using stratified cluster sampling of the selected universities. Pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was administered to assess socio-demographic factors, knowledge and attitudes on unsafe abortions. The responses to the knowledge and attitude questions were scored and graded. Percentage of knowledge categories and attitudes were calculated. The associations of knowledge categories with selected variables were assessed. RESULTS: A majority (53.3 %, n=839) of respondents had good knowledge on unsafe abortions while 30.5% (n=480) had satisfactory knowledge and minority (16.3%) had poor knowledge. Females (55%, n=509) had more good knowledge than males (51%, n=329, P>0.05). Those who studied in Bio-Science stream (70.2%, n=174, P<0.001) and who had their secondary education at mixed schools (54.4%, n=351, P>0.05) had more good knowledge than the others (P<0.001). The majority (68.5%, n=1074) agreed that the legal restrictions would drive people to unsafe abortions and making abortion services through the government health facilities could increase the inappropriate sexual behaviors (63.7%,n=998). Only a very few (7.1%, n=111) of undergraduates agreed that abortion was a convenient form of contraceptive and 47.7% (n=747) agreed to be restricted to save mother’s life. A majority (53.2%, n=833) agreed that it should be a right of a pregnant woman to decide whether she wants an abortion or not. CONCLUSION: A majority of undergraduates had good knowledge on unsafe abortions. Most of the undergraduates wanted not to fully liberalize abortion policies due to inappropriate usage and merely it is a right of a pregnant mother.