Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of contraceptive use amongst female student nurses in South Africa

Despite widespread access to contraceptives, unplanned pregnancies continue to occur among female student nurses, often hindering academic progress. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study using a census approach was conducted, with 170 of the 243 eligible students participating (70% response rate). The study investigated their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding contraceptive use. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. The findings revealed that 99.4% of participants had received education about contraception, with 67% citing healthcare professionals as their primary information source. Approximately 90% of participants demonstrated positive attitudes toward contraceptive use, while about 10% viewed it as sinful or were unsure. Furthermore, 71.2% reported current contraceptive use; among these, condoms (24.8%), injectables (20.7%), and oral pills (18.2%) were the most commonly used methods. Although overall knowledge and attitudes were positive, a minority showed gaps and disinterest, indicating the need for targeted educational support. These findings highlight the importance of integrating focused contraceptive education into nursing curricula.