Background/objective: University undergraduates are sexually active which might predispose them to unwanted pregnancies and its complications. This study aims to determine the knowledge and contraceptive prevalence among female undergraduates in public universities in Kwara State, Nigeria.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among female undergraduates in the two public universities in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 432 respondents were recruited using a three-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM® SPSS version 23. Categorical variables were summarized in prose, frequencies, and percentages, while numerical variables were summarized in prose, mean, standard deviation, and percentages. Data were presented in tables.
Result: Respondents’ age ranged from 18 to 27 years (mean: 20.28 ± 1.91). Most (87.0%) were sexually active. General knowledge of contraceptives ranged from 92 (21.3%) to 267 (61.8%). Awareness of levonorgestrel as an emergency contraceptive was lowest (21.3%), while knowledge of condom effectiveness in preventing HIV/STI was highest (61.8%). Overall contraceptive knowledge was poor (59.0%, 255). Approximately 30.1% of sexually active respondents used contraceptives, with condoms being the most common method (47.8%, 54), while Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) was the least used (3.5%, 4).
Conclusion: Contraceptive knowledge among female undergraduates in Kwara is poor. Most are sexually active and do not use modern contraceptive methods.
Key words: Female, Young Adult, Universities, Contraceptive Agents, Nigeria
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