title: Knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students in Malaysia: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students of a public sector university in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among senior pharmacy students. The pretested questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants over the period of 1-month. The questionnaire was divided into four sections, for gathering the information about students' demographic data, and their knowledge, attitudes, and perception toward contraception. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 68.6%. The results showed that the contraceptive knowledge was comparatively higher in year four students (P < 0.001), married respondents (P < 0.001) and those taking elective courses (P = 0.022) as compared to their respective counterparts. Majority of the students were well aware and had a positive perception about contraception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall findings reflect that the majority of the students had good knowledge, perception, and awareness about contraception. The study recommends future studies to be conducted covering different pharmacy schools across the country to further establish the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ramadan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Elkalmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Umair
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Akshaya B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norny Syafinase
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Abdurhaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shazia Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Jamshed
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ammar Ihsan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hazrina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Binti Ab Hadi
keywords: Awareness; contraceptive; knowledge; perception; students