title: Attitudes towards family planning among women seeking induced abortion in Izmir, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess contraceptive knowledge, use of emergency contraception (EC) and the motives of women seeking induced abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted at the T. C. Izmir Dr. Hayri Ekrem Ustundag Gynaecology and Maternity Hospital and the Izmir Ataturk Research and Teaching Hospital, Turkey. The research sample consisted of 440 women who requested an abortion between January and May 2010, and voluntarily agreed to participate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two percent of the women became pregnant while using family planning (FP) methods. The contraceptive used by 42% was the condom, and 45% believed that they had become pregnant because of improper use of the contraceptive. Ninety-three percent had never used EC. Thirty-seven percent wanted their pregnancy terminated because they did not want another child, whereas 26% viewed induced abortion as a method of FP. Sixty-nine percent of the women received FP counselling from health professionals, and 80% found the information provided adequate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The women assessed were insufficiently knowledgeable about FP in general and EC in particular. Many had become pregnant as a result of inaccurate information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecological and Obstetric Nursing, Ege University School of Nursing, Bornova, Izmir. senay.unsal.atan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Senay Ünsal
authors.initials: SÜ
authors.lastname: Atan
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kavlak
authors.forename: Eylül
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kulak
authors.forename: Mürüvet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkaya
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents