Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of contraceptive use amongst female student nurses in South Africa

Abstract

Despite widespread access to contraceptives, unplanned pregnancies continue to occur among female student nurses, often hindering academic progress. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study using a census approach was conducted, with 170 of the 243 eligible students participating (70% response rate). The study investigated their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding contraceptive use. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. The findings revealed that 99.4% of participants had received education about contraception, with 67% citing healthcare professionals as their primary information source. Approximately 90% of participants demonstrated positive attitudes toward contraceptive use, while about 10% viewed it as sinful or were unsure. Furthermore, 71.2% reported current contraceptive use; among these, condoms (24.8%), injectables (20.7%), and oral pills (18.2%) were the most commonly used methods. Although overall knowledge and attitudes were positive, a minority showed gaps and disinterest, indicating the need for targeted educational support. These findings highlight the importance of integrating focused contraceptive education into nursing curricula.