title: Providers' knowledge, attitude and dispensing practices of e-pills in government dispensaries of South district in delhi, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South Delhi is one of the well developed districts in the capital with best public health care facilities. Knowledge, attitude and dispensing practices of emergency contraceptive pills (E-pills) were assessed among health care providers of government dispensaries in South Delhi.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive epidemiological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both medical and paramedical (n = 428) providers in 63 government health care facilities were interviewed between August to December 2007 using a semi-structured interview schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the different categories of the providers, medical officers were observed to be most knowledgeable about E-pills and the pharmacists were the least. The correct prescribed dose of E-pill was known only to 32% of the providers while 49% knew about its right time of intake. Misconceptions and apprehensions for promoting its use were very much prevalent even among medical officers as majority felt that open access to E-pills would increase promiscuity. The dispensing practice of providers was found positively (P < 0.05) correlated with their knowledge. Training resulted a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in knowledge, attitude and dispensing practice of the providers. Knowledge and training combined together contributed 35% to the dispensing practice (R(2) = 0.35).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides knowledge, behavior change communication strategies should form a part of the training curricula of health care providers that would help to improve the dispensing practice of E-pills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biomedicine, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka, New Delhi - 110 067, India.
authors.forename: Vertika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kishore
authors.forename: Man M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Misro
authors.forename: Deoki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nandan