Are women ready for more liberal delivery of emergency contraceptive pills?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the knowledge, use and attitudes towards emergency contraception (EC) among women attending family planning clinics.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire survey.


METHODS
Eight birth control clinics and three youth health care centers of The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong.


METHODS
A total of 2454 women aged 15 to 53 attending the clinics between 1 November 2003 and 13 December 2003 were recruited.


RESULTS
A total of 1405 completed questionnaires were analyzed. 63.7% of women had heard of EC and 51.8% knew that they had to take it within 72 h. 15.7% had used EC before. More advertising on EC was considered desirable by 46.3% of subjects. 48.7% of subjects supported advanced provision of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and 25.7% supported over-the-counter sales.


CONCLUSIONS
The awareness and use of EC were low in our study population. They were not ready for more liberal delivery of ECPs as less than 50% of women supported these new delivery modes and their knowledge on ECPs use was inadequate.
Wan
Rebecca S F
RS
The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong, 9/F Southern Center, Wanchai, Hong Kong, PR China. sfwan@famplan.org.hk
Lo
Sue S T
SS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003282:Contraceptives, Postcoital, Hormonal