KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES REGARDING EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS AMONG STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY AT HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

Objective: To determine the proportion of students with good knowledge and appropriate attitudes toward emergency contraception; to describe patterns of emergency contraception use; and to examine factors associated with students’ knowledge and attitudes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 294 full-time six-year general medical students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitudes. Results were presented as proportions, adjusted odds ratios (aORs), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results: The proportion of students with good knowledge of emergency contraception was 21.1% (95% CI: 16.8–26.1%), while 55.8% (95% CI: 50.1–61.3%) demonstrated positive attitudes. The prevalence of prior emergency contraception use was 6.8% (95% CI: 4.4–10.3%). Multivariable analysis showed that being older than 22 years was significantly associated with good knowledge (aOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.24–4.01, p = 0.007) and a positive attitude (aOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.22–3.41, p = 0.02). Furthermore, only 21.9% and 27.0% of students correctly identified the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) and selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs), respectively, as highly effective methods of emergency contraception.

Conclusion: Medical students demonstrated limited knowledge of emergency contraception, particularly regarding highly effective methods such as the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) and selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs). Although attitudes toward emergency contraception were generally positive, the practice domain could not be comprehensively evaluated because only a small proportion of students had ever used emergency contraception. Given that self-directed information sources alone may be insufficient to ensure adequate knowledge, greater emphasis should be placed on incorporating emergency contraception into the formal medical curriculum to improve students’ competency in contraceptive counseling.