Related Experiment Videos
Emergency contraception--why women don't use it
L Young1, L M McCowan, H E Roberts
1National Women's Hospital, Auckland.
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|April 26, 1995
Summary
Many women lack knowledge and access to emergency contraceptive pills, despite knowing about them. Increased availability, such as over-the-counter access, could improve usage for pregnancy prevention.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Contraception Research
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) are crucial for preventing unintended pregnancies.
- Understanding women's knowledge and access barriers to ECP is vital for reproductive health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess women's awareness and perceived availability of ECP.
- To identify reasons for underutilization of ECP.
- To explore potential strategies for improving ECP access and use.
Main Methods:
- A study surveyed 300 women across three Auckland clinics: two abortion clinics and one family planning clinic.
- Participants were asked about their previous use, awareness, and perceived barriers to ECP.
Main Results:
- Only 7% of women attending abortion clinics had used ECP in the month of conception.
- Significant barriers included lack of awareness (38%) and difficulty in obtaining ECP (41%).
- A majority (62%) would have used ECP if readily available at home or over-the-counter (57%).
Conclusions:
- A notable gap exists between ECP awareness and actual usage, highlighting significant access barriers.
- Women seeking pregnancy termination expressed strong willingness to use ECP if more accessible.
- Recommendations include co-prescribing ECP with other contraceptives and exploring over-the-counter availability in New Zealand.