© 2016 Bello et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms. php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Open Access Journal of Contraception 2016:7 109–115 Open Access Journal of Contraception Dovepress submit your manuscript | www.dovepress.com Dovepress 109 ORIGINAL RESEARCH open access to scientific and medical research Open Access Full Text Article http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S103261 Awareness and practice of dual contraception among female tertiary institution students in Ibadan, Nigeria Oluwasomidoyin Olukemi Bello 1 Timothy AO Oluwasola 1,2 Folasade Adenike Bello 1,2 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Purpose: To determine the knowledge, awareness, and factors associated with the practice of dual contraception among female undergraduates in Ibadan, Nigeria. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge and practice of dual contraception among female under- graduates in the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan. A total of 1,200 undergraduate students were interviewed, and data obtained were analyzed with SPSS Version 18.0. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 22.57±3.43 years. Among the respondents, 900 (84.6%) were unmarried, 871 (77.9%) have been sexually exposed, 793 (70.9%) had heard of dual contraception, and 659 (58.9%) had knowledge of dual contraception. Majority (66.8%) of the participants used effective contraception, of whom 423 (56.3%) used condom, while others used other short- or long-term reversible contraception. More than two-thirds (79.2%) of the sexually exposed respondents were aware of dual contraception, but only 465 (41.6%) had practiced it. The main sources of information about dual contraception were from friends and radio (45.3% and 36.1%, respectively). Those who had multiple sexual partners and early coitarche were more likely to use dual contraception (P<0.05). History of previous sexually transmitted infection (odds ratio =3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] =2.03–4.62) and unwanted pregnancy (odds ratio =3.53, 95% CI =2.62–4.74) were strongly associated with the use of dual contraception. Conclusion: Uptake of dual contraception among the students was low. Efforts need to be concentrated on determining and addressing the challenges that are responsible for the lower uptake of dual contraception among female undergraduates who are at higher risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Promotion of consistent use of dual contraception is pertinent in maximizing the benefits of dual contraception in our environment. Keywords: uptake, dual contraception, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection Introduction Dual contraception is the use of two contraceptive methods, one of which is a male/ female condom and another is a highly effective contraceptive method to simultane- ously prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 1 Advocacy for its use should be intensified in young women who are more likely to engage in risky sexual activities with resultant effects of increased complications of unwanted preg- nancy and STIs. Several studies have documented increased risk of pregnancy and STIs in young women as a consequence of high rates of sexual activities. 2–4 This is a major challenge not only to the reproductive health of young women but also to their economic and psychosocial health resulting from associated complications. Correspondence: Oluwasomidoyin Olukemi Bello Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, PMB 5116, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Tel +234 803 371 1116 Email bellodoyin@yahoo.com