[Who are the users of emergency contraception?].
BACKGROUND
A user profile is necessary in order to direct future campaigns for emergency contraception (EC).


METHODS
Over a three-month period, 423 women with prescriptions for EC were consecutively entered in the study, which was carried out in four inner-city pharmacies in Copenhagen, Denmark.


RESULTS
The median age was 24 years (range 13-50 years). Most women (73%) were first-time users of EC. The reason for the current need for EC was most often condom failure (54%) or non-use of any contraceptive method (41%). Only six women (1.4%) reported non-use of contraception because of their knowledge of EC and only four women (0.9%) reported EC as the usual method of contraception. Knowledge about EC more often came from family or friends (51%) and advertising (47%), than from general practitioners (26%) or through sex education in schools (3%). Altogether 282 women (69%) received EC from a doctor in the medical emergency service or a casualty ward.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, EC is used as recommended. Its availability does not seem to reduce the use of safer contraceptive methods. The mandatory sex education in school should include information on EC.
Hansen
Charlotte C Thim
CC
H:S Rigshospitalet, Juliane Marie Centret, gynaekologisk klinik. thim@dadlnet.dk
Svare
Edith Ingerslev
EI
Petersen
Rasmus Hjelmar
RH
Bock
Johannes E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012736:Sex Education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal