IMPORTANT BUT INCOMPLETE: PLAN B AS AN AVENUE FOR POST-ASSAULT CARE

Many survivors of rape do not seek post-assault care. The recent change in status of emergency contraception (EC), such as Plan B, to an over-the-counter (OTC) product may be further changing post-assault care-seeking. This descriptive study will quantify OTC EC use in the post-assault period and elicit survivors' desires for care. Data were collected from women purchasing OTC EC at university pharmacies (n=55) and students in an undergraduate university class (n=165). Quantitative results indicate annual prevalence rates of post-assault OTC EC use as 5.4%-7.3%. Qualitative analyses indicate OTC EC is an important but incomplete form of post-assault care. Future work should focus on intervention development to provide all OTC EC users with information about post-assault resources to prevent long-term sequelae.