Emergency contraception for sexual assault victims in North Carolina emergency departments.
BACKGROUND
One in 5 women is a victim of sexual assault. This study examines the administration of emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault in North Carolina hospital emergency departments.


METHODS
One hundred seventeen surveys were mailed to hospital emergency departments across the state to determine their emergency contraception practices for victims ofsexual assault. The survey contained 11 questions about emergency contraception practices for victims.


RESULTS
Of the 117 surveys, 103 were returned revealing that just over 50% of the hospitals in North Carolina treated victims with emergency contraception without exception. Both dispensing emergency contraception and providing information about emergency contraception were significantly associated with having a sexual assault nurse examiner program.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study demonstrate inconsistent provision of emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault; however, there is greater consistency of emergency contraception use by emergency departments using sexual assault nurse examiners.
Woodell
Amy Tucker
AT
NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, USA. awoodell@ProChoiceNorthCarolina.org
Bowling
James Michael
JM
Moracco
Kathryn E
KE
Reed
Melissa L
ML
D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009657:North Carolina; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011902:Rape; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires