Divine-Favour Somto NWANKWO

This study investigated the perceived knowledge and misconceptions about Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) among undergraduates of the University of Benin, Edo State. The research aimed to assess the level of awareness, common misconceptions, and sources of information about ECPs. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 192 respondents selected through a simple random sampling technique. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that a majority of the respondents (63.54%) demonstrated a high level of knowledge about ECPs, while 36.46% had low knowledge. The study also highlighted prevalent misconceptions, such as beliefs that ECPs cause permanent infertility, are equivalent to abortion pills, or promote sexual irresponsibility. These misconceptions were widely accepted among respondents, as shown by a cluster mean of 2.72, which is above the benchmark mean of 2.50. The study concluded that while most undergraduates have substantial knowledge of ECPs, misconceptions persist and may hinder proper utilization. It
is recommended that targeted educational programs and awareness campaigns be implemented by health authorities and institutions to address these myths and improve reproductive health literacy among students.