A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practice of emergency contraception among university students in Cameroon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Unsafe abortion is a major public health problem in low-and-middle income countries. Young and unmarried women constitute a high risk group for unsafe abortions. It has been estimated that widespread use of emergency contraception may significantly reduce the number of abortion-related morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and experiences on emergency contraceptive pills by the university students in Cameroon in order to develop and refine a national health programme for reducing unwanted pregnancies and their associated morbidity and mortality.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A convenient sample of 700 students of the University of Buea (Cameroon) was selected for the study. Data was collected by a self-administered, anonymous and pre-tested questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The response rate was 94.9% (664/700). General level of awareness of emergency contraceptive pills was 63.0% (418/664). However, knowledge of the general features of emergency contraceptive pills was low and misinformation was high among these students. Knowledge differed according to the source of information: informal source was associated with misinformation, while medical and informational sources were associated with better knowledge. Although the students generally had positive attitudes regarding emergency contraceptive pills, up to 65.0% (465/664) believed that emergency contraceptive pills were unsafe. Those with adequate knowledge generally showed favourable attitudes with regards to emergency contraceptive pills (Mann-Whitney U = 2592.5, p = 0.000). Forty-nine students (7.4%) had used emergency contraceptive pills themselves or had a partner who had used them.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Awareness of emergency contraception pills by Cameroonian students is low and the method is still underused. Strategies to promote use of emergency contraception should be focused on spreading accurate information through medical and informational sources, which have been found to be reliable and associated with good knowledge on emergency contraceptive pills.</p

Researching women: an annotated bibliography on gender equity in Commonwealth higher education

This annotated bibliography documents the wealth of scholarship on gender and higher education in the Commonwealth, particularly in low-income countries. It contains the results of a major literature search of published and 'grey' literature: the texts that do not reach the public domain, including conference papers, seminar papers and MA and doctoral theses. The aim is to present as full a picture as possible of issues, debates and concerns that have arisen over the past ten years. The bibliography originated in the Gender Equity in Commonwealth Higher Education Research Project, directed by Louise Morley at the Institute of Education, University of London. In the early stages of the project it became apparent that there is a paucity of published literature on women and higher education outside the West. While there is literature on girls and education in low-income countries, there appeared to be little material published about women's experiences of higher education, depsite the research on gender equity in higher education across the Commonwealth. Somehow descriptions and analysis of this work did not seem to be getting into the public domain. This meant that opportunities for dissemination and sharing were being severely limited. Researching Women addresses this lack by describing the location and reviewing the content of writing from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Australasia and the UK. As such, it should be a valuable resource for gender scholars who are interested in international patterns and interventions for gender equity in higher education

Beekeeping in the Caribbean

The potential for the production of honey and related products for the Caribbean is great. The climate, flora and demand fot an economical, locally produced sweetener provide an ideal setting for expanded production. Start-up and ongoing expenses are minimal compared to most agricultural endeavors. Although management is needed, anyone with a desire can learn the necessary skills. Recently, a technical assistance program between Dominica and Michigan State University catalyzed developments for the industry on that island. Field level Agriculture Extension Agents from the two countries worked together to identify potential producers, provide training, and encourage the development of producer support systems. Such a technical assistance program could be continued with Extension Agents and experienced volunteer beekeepers who would help local beekeepers improve their skills, create new products and reteach other beginning beekeepers. A joint program to pool expertise and interests could be developed and is worth exploring

Exploring knowledge and attitudes about emergency contraceptive pills among university students in Jamaica. A qualitative approach.

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are an important option for university students who may be at high risk for unplanned pregnancies. In the Caribbean, little research has been carried out on university student's knowledge and opinions of this method. This study uses qualitative methodology to explore knowledge and opinions on ECPs among university students attending The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus. We conducted eight focus groups (n = 71) with female and male university students at The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, in March 2000. The group discussions lasted approximately two hours. We tape-recorded discussions and then transcribed and analyzed them by coding responses according to themes. General knowledge of ECPs was high, but students lacked specific information about the method such as its time frame and its mechanism of action. Most students supported the method, especially after learning correct information. However, several students were concerned about its side effects and the potential for abuse or irresponsible use by young adults. Although the university students in this study lacked detailed information about ECPs, their opinion toward the method was favourable. We suggest further research to investigate the prevalence of misinformation about the method among other groups of Jamaicans