College students' perceptions of emergency contraception provision.
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined college students' perceptions regarding emergency contraception (EC) provision in light of the then pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision about the over-the-counter (OTC) status of EC.


METHODS
We randomly sampled 7000 male and female students who were enrolled full-time at the University of Michigan during the winter 2006 semester. A total of 1585 (22.6%) students responded to our web-based survey and were included in these descriptive analyses.


RESULTS
Nearly all (94%) respondents knew of EC. When asked whether EC should be made available OTC, 60% of respondents agreed, 23% disagreed, and 17% were unsure. If EC were to be made available OTC, 34% of respondents indicated that they (or their partner) would purchase EC in advance of need, and 44% stated that they would purchase it only after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. Advance discussion and provision of EC is underused. Only 10% of all female respondents indicated that their current healthcare provider had spoken to them about EC in a routine health visit, and just 5% of female respondents were offered a supply of EC in advance of need.


CONCLUSIONS
Continued efforts are needed to ensure timely access to EC in this population.
Vahratian
Anjel
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0276, USA. amv@med.umich.edu
Patel
Divya A
DA
Wolff
Kristen
K
Xu
Xiao
X
D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs