Factors influencing the utilization of contraceptives among university female students: a case of Makerere University

Abstract

Despite the increased global, regional and national focus to promote and upscale adoption and utilization of contraceptives, the level of utilization of contraceptives among students has remained very low. It is therefore on the basis of this alarming low usage of contraceptives services that the researcher conducted a study on the factors influencing the utilization of contraceptives services among university female students. A well-structured questionnaire was sent to female students of Makerere University and 146 of them willingly responded. The data obtained was analyzed using Stata version 15. Analysis was done at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. A chi square test was done to test for relationships between factors and contraceptive utilization and a logistic regression model was ran to determine which factors significantly affect contraceptive use among female university students. All the respondents had some knowledge on contraceptives and 95% of them had ever used some form of contraception. Majority (42.6%) had ever used an injectable method, 29% had ever used condoms, 14.7% had ever used pills, and only 8.7% used implants while only 5.0% used none. Wealth status, religious affiliation, knowledge on contraception as well as the ability to decide were found to be significantly related to contraception utilization. Also, wealth status, religious affiliation as well as knowledge on contraception were found to significantly affect contraceptive use. To improve contraception utilization among university students, the government could consider running awareness campaigns through which misconceptions surrounding contraception can be demystified as well as lower the cost of contraceptives so that even the not so rich students can afford them.