Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions among public university students in Blantyre District regarding provision of voluntary abortion services.
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Date
2020-06-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type of research study
This will be a cross-sectional study design that will focus on university students at College of
Medicine and Polytechnic.
The problem
Maternal mortality around the world has been a burden for years and it is even more of a
problem in low income countries such as Malawi. The maternal mortality rate is 574 deaths
per 100 000 live births in Malawi 2014. Approximately 22 800 deaths globally from
complications of abortions. An induced abortion takes place when a pregnancy is terminated
by the deliberate removal of the foetus from the uterus by the use of external methods as a
result of an unwanted pregnancy. In Malawi, abortion is only legal if the mother’s life is at
risk. This leads to women and girls seeking unsafe abortion services. The median age at first
intercourse is 16.8 years old and median age at first birth among women aged 20-49 in
Malawi is 19.1 years old, hence why we believe university students would be a good age
group to sample.
Objectives
General objective
To assess the perception of college students regarding the voluntary termination of pregnancy.
Specific objectives
To assess their level of knowledge on their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
To compare the attitudes between medical and non-medical students on abortion.
To evaluate the difference in the perceptions between the junior and senior years.
Methodology
The objectives will be addressed through an anonymous questionnaire which will be filled in.
The research will be carried out over a period of six weeks. Non-numerical data will be
grouped by soliciting five-point Likert-scaled responses along a continuum from “strongly
agree” to “strongly disagree” then percentages and proportions can be derived from there. We
will conduct the study after approval from the College of Medicine Research Ethics
Committee. The participants will sign informed consent forms before they can participate.
They will be given information about the study, participate voluntarily and be able to
withdraw if they wish.
Expected findings
We expect to establish the perceptions of college students regarding the provision of
voluntary abortion services, be able to compare the perceptions between the students at
Polytechnic and the College of Medicine and identify a difference, if any, between the
attitudes of the lower years and upper years.
Dissemination
Study findings will be disseminated to the COM academic staff and all members of the
University of Malawi who will attend the fourth year Research Dissemination day during the Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions among public university students in Blantyre district
regarding provision of voluntary abortion services.
2020/2021 academic year. The study findings will also be submitted to a peer reviewed
journal and a final copy will be shared with the College of Medicine Library and COMREC.