title: Contraceptive failures and determinants of emergency contraception use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Two years after emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) were made available without prescription in France, we investigated the determinants of ECP use in a representative sample of women at risk for unintended pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is based on data collected from a population-based cohort exploring contraceptive practices and abortion (N=2863).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 706 women at risk for unintended pregnancy during the first year of follow-up (2001), only 11.1% used ECPs. Women in stable relationships or using the same contraceptive method during the year were less likely to use ECPs than other women. The study also demonstrates that detailed knowledge of ECPs increases the probability of its subsequent use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the low frequency of ECP use in cases of unintended pregnancy risk, these results suggest that information campaigns should be targeted not only at women with irregular contraceptive practices but also at women who experience errors in the use of their regular contraceptive method.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U569 "Epidemiology, Demography and Social Sciences," IFR69, 94276 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goulard
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Job-Spira
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bajos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital