title: Provision of emergency contraception at student health centers in California community colleges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, with the highest rates reported among college-age women. The availability of emergency contraception (EC) pills can be an important component of efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy. Student health centers at community colleges can uniquely support student retention and academic achievement among college students by making EC available to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy and prevent college drop-out. This article highlights findings from an assessment of EC provision in student health centers within the California community college system (n = 73).
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey was used to explore the provision of EC, challenges and barriers of EC administration, promotion of EC availability, and attitudes toward EC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Descriptive statistics conducted revealed that more than 6 out of 10 (62%) student health centers provided EC, 77% of which dispense EC on site during clinic visits. The most common EC promotion methods were providing brochures at the health center (80%) and through information provided at family planning or primary care visits (73%). Challenges to EC administration included a perceived lack of awareness of EC among students (71%), followed by the notion that some students may overutilize EC (40%). Attitudes toward EC provision were more favorable among health center staff whose campuses offered EC than those who did not (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article provides recommendations for community college health centers to improve access and delivery of EC by addressing issues such as cost and offering more novel EC promotion methods.
authors.affiliation: Student Health Center, Ohlone College, Fremont, California 94539, USA. sangleng@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sang Leng
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Trieu
authors.forename: Divya P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bratton
authors.forename: Helen Hopp
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Marshak
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010174:Pamphlets; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013332:Student Dropouts; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital