KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT NURSES REGARDING CONTRACEPTION IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Contraception plays a vital role in preventing unintended pregnancies, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, and promoting overall reproductive health. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude among student nurses regarding contraception in Peshawar, Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY

This descriptive cross-sectional was carried out in three private nursing colleges in Peshawar, Pakistan from July 2024 to December 2024.  Date were collected from 169 participants, selected through Convenience sampling technique utilizing an adopted questionnaire of 69 questions related to the knowledge and attitude regarding contraception in a Likert Scale. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for demographic variables. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for knowledge. Chi square test was applied to find association between demographic variables and level of knowledge. Data were analyzed with SPSS 22.

RESULTS

Of the total 169 student nurses, males were 154 (91%) and females were 15 (9%). Age of the 81 % of the participants were between 17-21 years, 21% were 22-26 years. had good knowledge, 115 (68%) had average level of knowledge and 24 (14.2%) had poor knowledge regarding contraception. Majority of the participants 98 (58%) has positive attitude towards contraception while 71 (42%) had negative attitude.

CONCLUSION

 The findings concludes that student nurses have moderate knowledge regrading contraception while more than half of the student nurses had positive attitude towards contraception. Although the findings are satisfactory but not ideal given the gravity of the issues. Therefore, educational programmes are required further enhance the knowledge and attitude of the student nurses.