REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION, NEEDS AND IT’S SOURCES AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN COLLEGES OF MEDICINE, NORTH CENTRAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the reproductive health information, needs, and its sources among female undergraduate students in colleges of medicine, North central zone of Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of this study was 1,339 registered female undergraduate students of colleges of medicine, North Central, Nigeria. The sample size of the study was 549 female undergraduates’ students representing 41% of the population. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and observation checklist. Data gathered were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found out that, female undergraduate students have health information needs on sexual management, antenatal and postnatal care, stress and emotional well-being which motivates them to source for health information resources from different sources to meet the needs. However, the lack of adequate health information resources in colleges of medicine libraries have exposed female undergraduate students to source for health information resources from authentic and unauthentic sources which exposes them to health consequences if not. Seminar should be organize for female undergraduates on the information need to manage unplanned pregnancy, the implications of female genital mutilation, and information on safe abortion and post abortion complications. The female undergraduate students should be enlightened on the advantages of sourcing health information from the library databases, institutional repository, textbooks and printed materials.