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  • Title: Women's knowledge of emergency contraception.
    Author: George J, Turner J, Cooke E, Hennessy E, Savage W, Julian P, Cochrane R.
    Journal: Br J Gen Pract; 1994 Oct; 44(387):451-4. PubMed ID: 7748633.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: More widespread use of emergency contraception could help to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. AIM: The objective of this study was to assess women's knowledge of emergency contraception. METHOD: A questionnaire was distributed to 1290 women aged between 16 and 50 years attending 14 general practice surgeries in London over a two-week period in 1990. RESULTS: The response rate was 70%. Over three quarters of the women had heard of emergency contraception; these were mainly women who used contraception, who had higher educational qualifications or who were not Muslim. Women who were the most likely to need and to use emergency contraception--those using barrier methods--had no more accurate knowledge than women using any other method of contraception. Only 53% of barrier method users knew emergency contraception could be used as a backup when other methods failed. Only one fifth of women had heard about this method from their general practitioner or any other health professional, while half had obtained their information from the media. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that including information on emergency contraception in consultations with users of barrier methods of contraception is a small step which general practitioners and practice nurses could take to increase the use of emergency contraception. To assess women's knowledge of postcoital contraceptive methods, a questionnaire was distributed to 1290 women 16-50 years of age located at 14 general practice surgeries in London, England, in 1990. 690 (78.6%) of the 878 women whose questionnaires were returned and suitable for analysis had heard of postcoital contraception. Affirmative responses were greater among users of barrier methods and increased linearly with educational level. Of those who had heard of emergency contraception, 434 (64%.0%) knew it could be used after unexpected sex and 420 (61.9%) cited sexual assault as an indicator; only 286 (42.2%) were aware it could be used as a back-up when another contraceptive method had failed. Only 92 (13.6%) respondents gave the correct 72-hour time frame for the effective use of postcoital contraception. Overall, the survey findings indicated widespread awareness as to the availability of postcoital contraception but a lack of accurate knowledge concerning its proper use. Of the 690 women who answered the question on knowledge sources, 51.6% cited the mass media, 23.5% identified friends and relatives, and only 20.1% had been informed by a health care professional. It is recommended that primary health care staff incorporate counseling on emergency contraception--especially its use as a back-up method in cases of condom or diaphragm failure--into consultations on fertility control and safe sex.
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