Emergency contraception pills among female students: Use, knowledge, perceptions, and expectations

To assess the rate of emergency contraception pills (ECP) use among female students, and to examine their characteristics, knowledge, perceptions and expectations regarding ECPs, with particular attention to the experiences and feedback of those who had previously used it.

A cross-sectional, voluntary online survey was conducted among female women students at the Marie and Louis Pasteur University during the 2022-2023 academic year. The questionnaire mainly assessed demographics, contraceptive use, knowledge and perceptions of ECP, and experiences with ECP use. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed.

Among 2,157 female students who completed the survey, i.e., response rate of 15.1 %, 39.1 % reported having previously used ECP at least once, with use increasing significantly with age groups (< 20, 20-29, >29 years). Female students who had used ECP showed higher knowledge and more positive perceptions about ECP, were more likely to use condoms, and primarily consulted pharmacists and the Internet for information. Most ECPs were obtained from community pharmacies, with nearly three-quarters of pharmacists providing information, but only 4 % of dispensations occurred in a confidential space. The main reasons for ECP use were condom breakage, forgetting regular contraception, or not using any regular contraceptive method. Practical and theoretical knowledge about ECP was higher among users.

Most female students were aware of emergency contraception and its indications, with a moderate rate of use. These results highlight the need to improve access to reliable information and to explore the role of healthcare professionals and educational strategies in promoting appropriate ECP use.