title: Cultural adaptation among Hispanic women as related to awareness and acquisition of emergency contraception.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study was conducted to examine the relationship between cultural adaptation (acculturation), contraceptive use, personal history of induced abortion, and emergency contraceptive (EC) awareness and acquisition among a sample of young sexually active Hispanic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 959 Hispanic women between 16 and 24 years of age (mean±SD 20.71±2.42 years) completed a survey containing questions on EC acquisition and awareness, acculturation, contraceptive used at last intercourse and history of induced abortion. Data were analyzed using logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acculturation (p=.017), income (p=.024) and education (p<.001) were positively associated with awareness of EC. Additionally, acculturation (p=.003) and a history of an induced abortion (p=.026) were positively associated with acquisition of EC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational programs should make an effort to include Hispanic women with lower acculturation levels as increasing their knowledge about EC use and its mechanism of action may greatly reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0587, USA. kristy.kay.ward@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kristy K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Angelica M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Roncancio
authors.forename: Abbey B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Berenson
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000523:psychology*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female