AWARENESS ON EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS AND MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY AMENDMENT ACT, 2021 AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Introduction:In present era, declining age at puberty and increasing age of marriage have created a gap in which young people may engage in premarital sexual relations. Limited knowledge about reproductive health services among adolescents may attribute to increased risk of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge on Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amendment Act, 2021 among medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 369 medical students of I, II, III-year from a government medical college. Using stratied random sampling, 123 students were selected from each year, of which 82 were boys and 41 were girls. Data was collected with preformed, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire using google form. Results: Out of 378 students, most-common source of information regarding ECP was medical college (91%). Almost three-fourths (72%) knew correct timing of ECP usage and 52% didn't know that ECP is Over-the-counter drug. Only 23% of students were aware of fact that ECP can't terminate pregnancy. Almost two-third (66%) didn't know that spouse's consent is not required for MTP. Almost 73% were aware that upper limit for MTPhas been raised from 20 weeks to 24 weeks for special categories. However only 17% students knew that there is no gestational age limit in congenital anomalies cases. Conclusions: Medical students have a lack of correct knowledge about ECPand MTPAmendment Act, 2021.