title: Emergency contraception knowledge among women in a Boston community.
abstract: This study assesses the baseline knowledge of emergency contraception (EC) in a Boston neighborhood. A written survey was distributed to women aged 18-44 years in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain. Of the 188 participants, 82% have heard of EC. Knowledge disparities by race/ethnicity groups were seen, with only 51% of Latina women and 75% of Black women having heard of EC compared with 99% of White women (p < .0001 and p = .002, respectively). Of the entire cohort, 39% knew that EC works by preventing pregnancy, 48% knew that it should be taken within 72-120 h of unprotected intercourse and 44% knew that it is only available by prescription in Massachusetts. Only 25% of women have ever discussed EC with a health care provider, and only 12% have ever received an advance prescription. A community education campaign aimed at reproductive-age women, health care providers and pharmacists has been tailored to address these knowledge deficits.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. cchuang@psu.edu
authors.forename: Cynthia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Freund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires