Emergency contraception: pharmacy access in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
Emergency contraception could reduce the approximately 3 million unintended pregnancies that occur annually in the United States. Dedicated emergency contraception products may be particularly useful because instructions are easy to understand and simple to follow. However, they must be available within a few days to women who have had unprotected intercourse. The goal of this study was to investigate whether women presenting to pharmacies in a moderately sized metropolitan area with a prescription for Plan B or Preven could get it filled.


METHODS
Two research assistants posed as women needing emergency contraception. They visited 89 pharmacies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, presenting a prescription for either Plan B or Preven. The assistants recorded the availability of the products in the pharmacies. When the product was not in stock, the research assistants asked pharmacy providers why the products were not carried. Fisher exact test was performed to compare categoric data.


RESULTS
Plan B and Preven were in stock at only 19 visits (11%). Of the pharmacies that did not stock the products, 53% reported they could obtain Plan B or Preven within 24 hours. The most common reason cited by pharmacy providers for not stocking Plan B or Preven was the lack of prescriptions received for them (65%).


CONCLUSIONS
Plan B and Preven were not in stock at the majority of pharmacies in a moderately sized metropolitan area. Lack of availability at the pharmacy constitutes a major barrier to emergency contraception access.
Espey
Eve
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. eespey@salud.unm.edu
Ogburn
Tony
T
Howard
Deanna
D
Qualls
Clifford
C
Ogburn
Jane
J
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009516:New Mexico; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital