title: Perception on the severity of unwanted pregnancy among university students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of University students regarding the severity of unwanted pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study involved 408 (206 females and 202 males) students residing within the university campus. Simple and systematic sampling methods were used to select participants. A 4-likert scaled self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority (87.70%) of participants perceived unwanted pregnancy as leading to impaired mental health; 86.30% perceived it as a cause of many other health problems; 86.60% believed it could result to shame and withdrawal from society or even suicidal attempts; and child neglect and abandonment (84.80%). Using the cut-off points of 75% of the total scores as a criteria for assessing perception, fewer (60.30%) participants perceived unwanted pregnancy as preventing a girl from continuing with her education; insufficient money to provide for both mother and child (74.50%) and leading to higher risk of substance abuse and problem behaviour among children born from unwanted pregnancies (51.20%). Females students strongly agreed that unwanted pregnancy could lead to shame and withdrawal from the society compared to their male counterparts (Chi-square = 10.788, p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few students at the University of Venda perceived unwanted pregnancy as being severe enough and associated with truncated education, poverty for the young mother, and increased risk of problem behaviours. Thus, intervention strategies should be instituted to prevent unwanted pregnancies among the students.
authors.affiliation: Felix Chima Anyanwu, Department of Public Health, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chima Anyanwu
authors.affiliation: Daniel Ter Goon, Centre for Bioknetics, Recreation and Sport Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ter Goon
authors.affiliation: Augustine Tugli, Department of Public Health, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tugli
keywords: Perception; University students; Unwanted pregnancy