Urgent need for addressing Reproductive Health (RH) related challenges in higher learning institutions in Ethiopia

Abstract

According to a study published in this issue, only 42.5% of the respondents of a survey conducted among female students of Arba Minch University (Southern Ethiopia) have heard about emergency contraceptive, with an overall summary index for knowledge disclosing that only 21.9% had good knowledge (1). Underscoring this issue would not be considered overemphasizing even when data seem to be already fairly available on the problem. An earlier cross-sectional survey conducted among female students of Addis Ababa University and Unity University College (both in the Capital) in 2005 has shown that there was low level of knowledge and practice of emergency contraceptives among female university students (2). A similar study done in 2009 among female students of Adama University (Central Ethiopia) also showed lack of knowledge as one of the significant predictors of non-use of emergency contraception (3). Also more recently, a study involving 572 female students in Haramaya University (Eastern Ethiopia) revealed that 47.6% of the respondents had ever heard about emergency contraceptives with only 25.7% having good knowledge of the issue (4).