title: Awareness and practice of emergency contraception at a private university in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pursuit of formal education now causes many people in developing countries to marry later in life, thereby leading to increased premarital sex and unintended pregnancies. Efforts have been made to characterize awareness and use of emergency contraception (EC) among undergraduate students in public universities in Nigeria; however, it is not known if students in private tertiary institutions adopt different practices or if having an affluent family background plays a role. This pilot study therefore aimed to assess the awareness and use of EC among students at a private Nigerian university toward assisting education planners in developing strategies in improving students' reproductive well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 94 female students, 42 (44.7%) had sexual experience, but only 32 (34.0%) were currently sexually active. Six students (6.4%) had had unwanted pregnancies, of which all but one were terminated. Fifty-seven respondents (60.6%) were aware of EC, though only 10 (10.6%) ever practiced it. The greatest source of EC information was from health workers and peers; the lowest source was family or relatives. Most respondents desired orientation and availability of EC on campus. EC awareness among the students was predicted by upper social class background (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-7.45) and upbringing in the Federal Capital Territory (adjusted OR, 4.45; 95% CI, 1.56-14.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though awareness of EC was higher among the private university students in this study than at most public universities, there was no difference in EC usage. A high pregnancy termination rate was observed; dilatation and curettage were mainly adopted. In Nigeria, youth-friendly reproductive health information and access should not be limited to government-owned tertiary institutions but also extended to private ones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. bisijacob@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Jacob Olumuyiwa
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Awoleke
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. adanikinbiodun@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abiodun Idowu
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Adanikin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. adeolaawoleke@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adeola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awoleke
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. odanyemoyinoluwa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Moyinoluwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odanye
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D001364:Awareness; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009549:Nigeria; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D017149:Private Sector; D060728:Reproductive Health; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult