Abstract

A STUDY ON KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG NURSING STUDENTS OF A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SUBURB OF KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL

Dr. Deblina Sarkar, Dr. Chanchal Kumar Dalai, Dr. Kingsuk Sarkar*, Dr. Saugat Banerjee, Dr. Arnab Ghosal, Dr. Suman Kumar Roy

ABSTRACT

Background: Emergency contraception is also known as -post coital contraception and is typically less effective than other methods. It is invaluable for a women who has experienced a contraceptive failure or have been exposed to unprotected intercourse. The methods of emergency contraception include hormonal contraceptive pills (also called morning- after pills), intrauterine contraceptive devices and mifepristone. The nursing students in a way, bridges the gap between medical science and the society. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practice regarding emergency contraception of BSC nursing students studying in the College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Nadia and also to study their socio demographic background and to any relationship between socio demographic status and their prevailing knowledge and practice, if any. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional survey was carried out in December 2019 among BSC Nursing students of College of Medicine & JNM Hospital, Kalyani, Nadia, WB. All Nursing students in their First, Second and Third year of academic session were included in the study with help of a two-page, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Findings: The students (152) were aged between 17 and 23 years, with equal proportions of the study population being found in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of their academic session. Majority of them were Hindu by religion and resided in rural areas and most belonged to a four-member nuclear family. More than 2/3rds of nursing students (66.4%) knew Oral Contraceptive pills could be used as emergency pills, most (80.9%) were aware that it contains higher dose of hormones, most (62.5) knew it should be use within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, 38.2% considered that paramedics shouldn‟t be allowed to dispense emergency contraceptive, 57.2% considered “side effects” to be the greatest handicap regarding usage of emergency contraceptive. Conclusion: Though overall knowledge was satisfactory here are few misconceptions among nursing students about proper usage of emergency contraception. So, training programmes as well as regular updates to nursing personnel on EC should be mandatory.

Keywords: BSC nursing students, Emergency contraceptive, oral contraceptive pills.