KNOWLEDGE OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG MARRIED WOMEN IN AMASSOMA, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Background: Knowledge of contraceptives is a fundamental precursor to their adoption and correct use, yet awareness does not always translate into accurate understanding of what contraceptives are or which methods exist. This study assessed the level and depth of knowledge of contraceptives among married women in Amassoma, a riverine community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. In 2024, a structured, intervieweradministered questionnaire was completed by 400 married women in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, yielding a 100% response rate. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0, and results are presented as frequencies and percentages, illustrated with pie and bar charts. Results: Respondents' mean age was 31.0 (±7.8) years, and most had secondary (40.3%) or tertiary (38.5%) education. Most respondents (82.8%) reported knowing what contraceptives are, correctly defining them as methods used to prevent pregnancy. However, only 18.0% could name multiple contraceptive types (pills, condoms, implants and injections together), while implants were the single most recognized method (27.3%); 17.3% could not name any method. Sixty percent recognized a benefit of contraceptive use, while 44.5% held at least one myth or misconception about contraceptives. Conclusion: General awareness of contraceptives in this community is high, but detailed, method-specific knowledge is narrower and misconceptions remain common. Targeted health education emphasizing the range of available methods and dispelling common myths is recommended.