Only 30 per cent of women in the country are aware of emergency contraceptives, stakeholders working in the area of family and reproductive health have said.
They disclosed this during the dissemination meeting on Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraceptive Pills (LNG-ECPs) training manuals organized by the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) in Abuja.
Emergency contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, and recommended for victims of rape, incest and women, who need to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies.
Mrs Kehinde Osinowo, Director of Programmes, Association for Reproductive and Family Health said there was need to ensure that Nigerian women do not continue to die as a result of unplanned pregnancies.
“Some women became pregnant when raped, this can be averted. Women at risk of assault in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and other places could prevent unwanted pregnancies. Emergency contraceptives can mitigate the effect of unprotected intercourse,” she said.
She said the use of emergency contraceptives among Nigerian women was barely 2.8 %, adding that there was an association between knowledge and use.
