Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39901303›Full record

ArticleContraception and reproductive medicine2025

Exploring knowledge, attitudes, practices, and determinants regarding emergency contraception use among female university students in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cross-sectional study.

Patricia Lukusa Mishika, Olivier Mukuku, Amos Kamundu, Kaymarlin Govender, Stanislas Okitotsho Wembonyama, André Kabamba Mutombo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Contraception and reproductive medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Patricia Lukusa MishikaSchool of Public Health, University of Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Olivier MukukuInstitut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. oliviermukuku@yahoo.fr.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6902-7023
Amos KamunduSchool of Public Health, University of Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kaymarlin GovenderHealth Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9586-1510
Stanislas Okitotsho WembonyamaSchool of Public Health, University of Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7556-479X
André Kabamba MutomboFaculty of Medicine, Official University of Mbuji-Mayi, Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionEmergency contraception is an essential method for preventing unintended pregnancies, especially after unprotected sexual intercourse. However, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to emergency contraception among university students remain underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings such as Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and determinants influencing the use of emergency contraception among female students in Goma.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with 677 female students from two universities in Goma who were selected via a cluster sampling method. Data were collected via a preestablished questionnaire, and participants were interviewed after providing consent. The data were analysed via STATA 16, with chi-square tests to compare variables, considering a significance threshold of 5%.

resultsA total of 625 (92.32%) students reported being aware of emergency contraception, and 80.32% demonstrated good knowledge of it. In terms of attitudes, 533 (85.28%) students had positive attitudes towards emergency contraception. Among the 625 students who were familiar with emergency contraception, 416 had engaged in sexual intercourse, with 294 (70.67%) having utilized emergency contraception. Factors significantly linked to emergency contraception use included being single (adjusted OR = 1.9 [95% CI: 1.1-3.2]), possessing good knowledge (adjusted OR = 3.0 [95% CI: 1.6-5.8]), and having a positive attitude (adjusted OR = 2.4 [95% CI: 1.1-4.9]).

conclusionAlthough the students demonstrated good awareness of emergency contraception and its utilization, the high frequency of emergency contraception use underscores the importance of promoting knowledge about conventional contraceptive methods. It is crucial to enhance educational campaigns within universities to mitigate the elevated risk of unsafe abortions.

Indexed as

Attitudes and practicesEmergency contraceptionFemale studentsGomaKnowledgeSexual behaviorWomen

Identifiers

PMID39901303
PMCPMC11789368

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.