ABSTRACT
Introduction: Contraceptive methods, from the morning-after pill to the everyday birth control pill, prevent pregnancy when taken consistently. Nonetheless, the actual usage of contraceptives is notably low among teenagers in low- and middle-income countries, primarily due to misconceptions and accessibility challenges. Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the knowledge, access, use, and side effects of emergency contraception (EC) and everyday birth control pills among female senior secondary school students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 348 female senior secondary students in Benin City, to explore their understanding, access, and use of emergency and everyday birth control pills, along with any side effects experienced. Questionnaires were distributed and data was collected across a variety of schools and analyzed using SPSS and GraphPad InStat. Results: Most respondents fell within the age range of 13 years (84, 24.1%) to 14 years (96, 27.6%). Half of the sample size were familiar with emergency contraception 117 (49.1%) and everyday birth control pills 176 (50.6%) but Only 38 (10.9%) reported the morning-after pill as available, while 28 (8.0%) noted the ready availability of everyday birth control pills. Only 12 of the student (3.4%) having used the morning-after pill and 4 students (1.1%) used everyday birth control pills. 7 (2.0%) reported experiencing side effects from emergency contraception or everyday birth control pills, while 45 (12.9%) knew someone who had. Discussion: The study reveals a notable discrepancy between the high level of awareness about contraceptives and their actual usage among senior secondary school students in Benin City, Nigeria. Despite a broad familiarity with contraceptive methods, actual application is low, hindered by limited availability, cultural norms, and misinformation. This situation clearly shows ix the importance of public health strategies that improve access to and education about contraceptives. By addressing these challenges, these efforts are designed to help students make more informed decisions about their reproductive health, reduce unintended pregnancies and boost adolescent health outcomes. Conclusion: The study on contraceptive knowledge and use among female secondary students in Benin City found varying knowledge and widespread misconceptions. Accessibility issues impacted students' ability to obtain contraceptives. Emergency contraception (EC) usage was slightly higher compared to everyday birth control pills, influenced by less awareness. Sociodemographic factors significantly affected contraceptive knowledge, usage, and perceptions.
