Konlan, Kennedy D.Amoah, Roberta M.Saah, Joel A.Doat, Abdul RazakKonlan, Kennedy DodamJapiong, MilipaakAbdulai, Juliana A.2020-10-162020-10-162020-06Konlan Kennedy D., Amoah Roberta M., Saah Joel A., Doat Abdul Razak, Konlan Kennedy Dodam, Japiong Milipaak, Abdulai Juliana A.. The use of emergency contraception among female senior high students in the Ho municipality of the Volta Region, Ghana. International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020 Jun; 9(6): 2383-23922320-17702320-1789http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/207756Background: Emergency contraception (EC) is one option for preventing unplanned pregnancy when it is available and properly used. Unsafe abortions are responsible for nearly one third of maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa and about quarter of unsafe abortions are among teenagers.Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. Data was collected using a pretested questionnaire. 260 senior high students were selected using a systematic sampling method in the Volta Region, Ghana. Data were cleaned and entered into SPSS version 22 and analysed into descriptive statistics.Results: Respondents acquired awareness about EC from friends (36.9%), family members (5.6%) and the mass media (41.6%). The required time for EC to be taken were stated as immediately after sex (57.9%), 24 hours after sex (1.2%) and (30.6%) did not know. 28.4% of participants indicated they would not use EC in the future as their faith was against it, 18.0% believed EC is ineffective and 24.9% consider it dangerous to their health. Reasons for use of EC included condom slipped (35.7%), inability to be on daily pill (33.7%), forced unprotected sex (8.2%) and miscalculation of the safe menstrual period (22.4%). There was a significant relationship between age and history of use of EC (p=0.000, c2=8.128, n=260).Conclusions: Strengthening education in Senior High Schools on sexual and reproductive health, with special emphasis on emergency contraceptives as a pregnancy preventive procedure will remain imperative to reducing the canker of maternal mortality attributed to adolescent abortions while improving understanding of the appropriate use of EC.AbortionsEmergency contraceptionPregnancyPillsSexTeenagersJournal ArticleIndiaDepartment of Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, GhanaDepartment of Public Health, School of Allied Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale Northern Region, GhanaTehran University of Medical Science- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran, IranDepartment of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra Region, GhanaDepartment of Nursing, University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ho, GhanaDepartment of Surgery, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana