Different sources of information and their effects on contraceptives usage among female undergraduates in a Nigerian university

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to determine whether there is a significant and or predictable effect of information sources on contraceptives and contraceptives usage among female undergraduates at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Design: The study design involves cross-sectional structured questionnaire-based. Setting: The university campus. Participants: One hundred and fifty-one females from 100 to 500 levels and studying varying courses were selected from the bursary list of students using a multistage random sampling method. Main Outcome Measures: Do sources of information have a significant and predictable relationship with contraceptives usage? Results: Most of the students were 20–24 years old (53.0%) with a mean age of 20.28 ± 2.20 years. Christianity was the most practiced religion (55.0%), while Yoruba, the predominant tribe (73.6%). Out of the 91.4% aware of contraceptives, only 51.0% had ever used contraception. The condom was the most typical (90.9%) contraceptive used. Teachers were the most reported source of information on contraception (20.1%) but were not statistically significant, followed closely by peers (15.9%), with only 14.95% coming from hospital sources. However, at the multivariate level, radio was four times a significant predictor of use of contraception among the students (odds ratio [OR] = 4.288. 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.106–16.633]) while television was two times a predictor (OR = 1.987. 95% CI [0.776–5.091]). Conclusion: Television and radio were found to have a significant and predictable impact on contraceptives usage, so promotion of contraceptive use should engage the media more when targeting university students. The university's local radio becomes highly recommended, and the upcoming university local television station in sexual health and contraception information dissemination for students. Implication Statement: The promotion of sexual and reproductive health, especially contraception, to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy on the campus of higher institutions are incredibly important. This study is contributing to understanding the ways and means of going about this demanding and evolving task.