title: Emergency contraception pills (ECPs): current trends in United States college health centers.
abstract: Access to emergency contraception pills (ECPs) could drastically reduce the high rates of unintended pregnancies in college women. In spring 2001, a survey was distributed to 139 US college health centers to assess availability of ECPs. Those that prescribed ECPs provided additional information about health center distribution policies and procedures, provider practice patterns, advertising and staff attitudes. Those that did not offer ECPs were asked to state reasons for not providing this service and whether FDA approval of dedicated emergency contraception products might promote availability. The majority of campuses (66.9%) prescribe ECPs; however, many barriers exist to access. Campuses not prescribing ECPs cited moral conviction (56.5%) as a main reason for not providing this service. Staff and administration attitudes appear to play a major role in whether campuses make ECPs available to their students. Despite recent advances leading to increased availability of ECPs among college health centers, a number of campuses still do not prescribe ECPs.
authors.affiliation: Student Health Services, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4701, USA. brenin1@mail.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: Rory K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Brening
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dalve-Endres
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patrick
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003710:Demography; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009014:Morals; D011156:Population Density; D011247:Pregnancy; D012067:Religion; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital