[No reduced number of abortions despite easily available emergency contraceptive pills. Studies of women's knowledge, attitudes and experience of the method].
Despite the fact that emergency contraceptive pills (ECP) have become easily available across the country during recent years, abortion numbers continue to rise in Sweden, especially in the young age groups (< 25). In a series of studies, we have investigated knowledge, attitudes and experience of ECP among young women. Our results show that, whereas most women are aware of the method, many lack knowledge about the mechanism of action and time frames for best use, which could explain why ECPs are not used by more than a fraction of women who might have had benefit from their use. Since half of the women requesting a termination of pregnancy stated that they would have used ECP if they had had them available at home at the time of the unprotected intercourse which led to an unintended pregnancy, it seems reasonable to encourage women to keep ECPs at home, in case the need should arise. It is important that ECPs are available without prescription, but beyond that, much more information about ECP is necessary in order for the method to be widely accepted and used as a back-up after failure with other contraceptives.
Tydén
Tanja
T
Institutionen för folkhälso- och vårdvetenskap, institutionen för kvinnors och barns hälsa, Uppsala universitet. tanja.tyden@pubcare.uu.se
Aneblom
Gunilla
G
von Essen
Louise
L
Häggström-Nordin
Elisabet
E
Larsson
Margareta
M
Odlind
Viveca
V
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs