College student knowledge and attitudes toward emergency contraception.
BACKGROUND
This study explored male and female college students' knowledge of and attitudes toward emergency contraception pills (ECPs).


METHODS
A survey of 692 undergraduate college students (338 male and 358 female) was conducted at a mid-size university in northwest Pennsylvania during the Spring 2008 semester.


RESULTS
Eighty-three percent of the participants had experienced sexual intercourse, and 52% of them had feared a pregnancy at least once. Only 17% of the participants indicated prior use of ECP. Seventy-four percent of the students had heard of emergency contraception (EC); however, less than one-third knew the prescription status, common side effects or mechanisms of ECP. Only 16% of the participants knew that ECP was available at their college health center. Fifty percent of the students reported that they would feel comfortable using ECP, and 58% felt that ECP should be available without a prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
College students' knowledge level about EC is poor. There is a clear need for ECP as a pregnancy prevention method among college students and for better education about it.
Department of Health and Physical Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA 16444, USA. lmmiller@edinboro.edu
Laura M
LM
Miller
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital