Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Emergency Contraception among Graduating Female Students of Jimma University, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception refers to methods that women can use to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, method failure or incorrect use. Unwanted pregnancy followed by unsafe abortion can be avoided by using different contraceptive methods including emergency contraceptives. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among graduating female students of Jimma University main campus. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma University main campus in 2009. The calculated sample size was allocated to each faculty proportions to size of female students. Then within the faculty the sample unit was selected by using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using self administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS for widow version 16.0. RESULTS: A total of 389 (96.5%) volunteered graduating female students participated in the study. One hundred sixty three (41.9%) were ever heard of Emergency Contraceptive, only 11(6.8%) used the method. The common sources of information were friends 60 (36.5%), radio 37 (22.8%) and television 20 (12.3%). One hundred sixteen (71.2%) agreed to use Emergency Contraceptive when they practice unintended sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: Awareness and use of emergency contraception among graduating female students of Jimma University was low. There is a need to educate adolescents about emergency contraceptives, with emphasis on available methods and correct timing of use

Effects of post-hardening fertilization on early growth and nutrition of planted black spruce seedlings

grantor: University of TorontoBiomass and nutrient status of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) seedlings were examined during and after exposure to five hardening fertilization regimes: conventional (C), constant loading (CL), exponential (E), moderate exponential (EL) and high exponential loading (2EL) treatments (delivering respectively 0, 32, 0, 32, 64 mg N seedlings\sp{-1}) to assess the effect of fertilizer supplementation on early outplant growth. Under conventional (C), constant loading (CL) and exponential (E) regimes the seedlings experienced nutrient dilution, particularly of K, indicating soil nutrient levels were rapidly depleted because of plant uptake and lack of fertilizer during the hardening phase. Nutrient concentrations remained relatively stable throughout the hardening period in the moderate exponentially nutrient loaded (EL) and high exponentially loaded (2EL) seedlings, signifying sustained, steady-state nutrient conditions. The result indicated that plants treated with high and moderate exponential fertilizer schedules effectively countered nutrient dilution without causing nutrient toxicity. High preplant nutrient reserve in high exponentially loaded (2EL) seedlings resulted in increased field growth by as much as 33-35%, over nonloaded (C) seedlings. These plants were better able to translocate readily available internal reserves and to fix more carbon. Thus, exponential loading during post-hardening is an effective practice in ensuring steady-state nutrient culture of plants, and contributes significantly to improved outplanting performance of conifer seedlings.M.Sc.F