Abstract

Young women in the universities have an independence streak and have no restraints from parents, or school authorities regarding their sex lives, and are at liberty to experiment and have as much sex as desired, sometimes if they are not careful and probably have little knowledge on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies, they can pick seed and conceive. Lack of support from partners and/or family and limited monetary support can lead them to make wrong choices regarding the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and factors hindering access to safe abortion services among female students at the Tamale campus of the U.D.S. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Tamale campus of the U.D.S. 100 female students between the ages of 15 and 45 years were conveniently selected from a database of 187 female students. A questionnaire containing the relevant research questions related to the topic was designed using google forms, pre-tested on randomly selected 20 participants out of the total study population and subsequently self-administered to 100 female students through a web-based electronic platform. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Age distribution of study participants: 15-20 Years, 18 (18%), 21-25 Years, 67(67%), 26-30 years, 15(15%). Knowledge of abortion laws in Ghana: 71(71%) Yes, 29(29%) No. Revision of the current abortion law in Ghana: 72(72%) Yes, 28(28%) No. Reasons for change in abortion Laws: Infringes on basic human rights of women 89(89%), Contents are obsolete 11(11%). Knowledge of safe abortion methods: 95(95%) Yes, 5(5%) No. Knowledge of safe abortion centers: 69(69%) Yes, 31(31%) No. Knowledge of qualified safe abortion service providers: Gynecologists 50(50%), Midwives 28(28%), Pharmacists 15(15%), General Nurses 7(7%). Factors hindering access to safe abortion services: Religious beliefs 50(50%), Cost of services 30(30%), Fear of stigmatization 22(22%), Lack of knowledge about services 8(8%). Most of the student participants were between the ages of 21 and 25 years. The majority of the students have knowledge about abortion laws in Ghana, the different methods of safe abortion, and the availability of safe abortion service centers and providers. Half of the students are of the view that religious beliefs generally interfere with their willingness and readiness to access safe abortion services and that the Gynecologist is usually the most qualified medical specialist to provide safe abortion services.