Emergency contraception (EC) has been available in Namibia for many years; however,
there has been little research on knowledge, attitudes and practice of female learners
about it. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of
secondary school female learners towards emergency contraception. A cross sectional
descriptive study of 294 secondary female learners was conducted at Mweshipandeka
and Gabriel Taapopi secondary schools in Ongwediva, Namibia, during January 2013.
A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to female learners who agreed to
participate in the study. The findings indicated that only 4.4% of female learners had
heard and used emergency contraception. About 48% of them reported that oral
contraceptive pills are used for EC, 6% mentioned implants as EC and 9% mentioned
intrauterine device (IUD) as an EC. Only 7.8% mentioned the correct time (within
72hrs) of taking ECs in case of unprotected sex. More than 29% of female learners
mentioned friends/family as the source of information about EC. About 86% of female
learners who heard EC know the mechanism of action of EC pills and 8.5% believed
that EC worked by inducing abortion. More than 80% of students had positive attitudes
towards EC. The level of knowledge of female learners in secondary schools about EC
appears low; hence there is a need for more awareness creation and education among
the learners on EC. This could be done through peer education in the schools and a
possible incorporation of EC issues in secondary school curriculum.