Does readily available emergency contraception increase women's awareness and use?
BACKGROUND
In Australia just over half of all women of reproductive age have experienced an unplanned pregnancy, many of which could have been avoided by use of emergency contraception. A dedicated emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) pack became available on prescription in Australia in 2002, and over the counter in 2004.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if availability of a dedicated over the counter ECP pack in Australia increased knowledge and use of emergency contraception (EC).


METHODS
Women attending three free-standing abortion clinics in Sydney answered an anonymous questionnaire on their knowledge and use of the ECP. Group 1 (208 women) was recruited prior to a dedicated ECP pack being available, group 2 (308) after it was available on prescription, and group 3 (202) after it became available over the counter.


RESULTS
Women who had heard about EC were significantly younger (p < 0.005). The mean age of women who had never heard about EC was 29.8 years compared to 26.3 for women who had heard about EC. More women expressed awareness of the ECP after it became available over the counter. Women in group 2 attained a higher educational level than women in the other groups (p < 0.005). There was a significant trend to increased use of the ECP in women of higher educational level (p < 0.005). The use of EC did not increase significantly with improved availability and access.


CONCLUSIONS
Among women seeking termination of pregnancy wider availability of the ECP has increased women's awareness of EC but not use.
Novikova
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N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Sydney Centre for Reproductive Health Research, Research Division of Family Planning NSW, Sydney, Australia.
Weisberg
E
E
Fraser
I S
IS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001364:Awareness; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs