title: Use of non-emergency contraceptive pills and concoctions as emergency contraception among Nigerian University students: results of a qualitative study.
abstract: Emergency contraception (EC) can significantly reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the increasing awareness of EC among educated young women in Nigeria, the rate of utilisation remains low. This study therefore explores the main barriers to the use of EC among female university students by analysing their knowledge of emergency contraception, methods ever used, perceived efficacy, and its acceptability.
  
  
  
  This paper brings together the findings from several focus groups (N = 5) and in-depth interviews (N = 20) conducted amongst unmarried female undergraduate students in two Nigerian universities.
  
  
  
  Participants considered the use of condom and abstinence as the most effective methods of preventing unplanned pregnancy. However, many participants were misinformed about emergency contraception. Generally, participants relied on unconventional and unproven ECs; Ampiclox, "Alabukun", salt water solution, and lime and potash and perceived them to be effective in preventing unplanned pregnancies. Furthermore, respondents' narratives about methods of preventing unwanted pregnancies revealed that inadequate information on emergency contraception, reliance on unproven crude contraceptive methods, and misconception about modern contraception constitute barriers to the use of emergency contraception.
  
  
  
  The findings suggested that female university students are misinformed about emergency contraception and their reliance on unproven ECs constitutes a barrier to the use of approved EC methods. These barriers have serious implications for prevention of unplanned pregnancies in the cohort. Behavioural interventions targeting the use of unproven emergency contraceptive methods and misperceptions about ECs would be crucial for this cohort in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa. ajayianthony@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anthony Idowu
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ezebunwa Ethelbert
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Nwokocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akpan
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Walter Sisulu University, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, East London Hospital Complex, East London, South Africa.
authors.forename: Oladele Vincent
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents
keywords: Concoctions; Danger; Efficacy; Emergency contraception; Female university students; Misconceptions; Risky Sexual behaviours; Unplanned Pregnancy; Unprotected sex; Unsafe abortion