ACCEPTANCE AND UTILIZATION OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG MASS COMMUNICATION STUDENTS IN BENSON IDAHOSA UNIVERSITY, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study focused on the acceptance and utilization of contraceptives among Mass Communication students of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The study aimed to assess the level of awareness, acceptance, and utilization of contraceptive methods, as well as identify the factors influencing their use among students. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms to a total of 144 valid respondents selected from a population of 203 students. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in frequency tables and percentages. Findings from the study revealed that students possessed a high level of awareness of contraceptive methods, but their rate of utilization remained low. The study also showed that the most commonly known methods were condoms and oral contraceptive pills, while the least known were intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. Factors such as religion, culture, fear of side effects, and moral beliefs were identified as major barriers to contraceptive acceptance and use. The study concluded that although awareness of contraceptive methods among students was high, utilization was relatively low due to socio-cultural and religious constraints. It was therefore recommended that reproductive health education be intensified within the university community, youthfriendly health centers be established on campus, and that social and mass media platforms be effectively used to promote accurate contraceptive information among young people. Keywords: Awareness, Acceptance, Utilization, Contraceptives, Mass Communication Students, Benson Idahosa University.

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urn:uuid:7fd4c1b3-96a7-4dc1-9fb7-541f8da5c7f7