Emergency contraception considerations and use among college women.
BACKGROUND
Emergency contraception (EC) has been available behind the counter without a prescription since 2006. Evidence has shown increased use of EC among young women, but no recent findings have been published to date of current use.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study surveyed 482 college heterosexually active college women attending a large public university who either visited the college-based health clinic or were enrolled in selected undergraduate classes. Prediction models were created for each outcome, EC consideration and use, using Poisson regression with robust variance estimates.


RESULTS
Just over 58% of college women sampled reported ever considering EC, and just under 47% reported actual use. Consideration and actual EC use were highest for students who were nonwhite and who reported more sexual partners. Although female students who did not use condoms were more likely to use EC, there was no difference in EC relative to hormonal contraception use.


CONCLUSIONS
As EC becomes both better known and more readily available, use is expected to grow. Moving forward, greater attention is needed to the efficacy of EC use on preventing unwanted pregnancies.
Department of Sociology, State University of New York, New Paltz, New York 12561, USA. walterme@newpaltz.edu
Eve
E
Waltermaurer
Helene M
HM
Doleyres
Robert A
RA
Bednarczyk
Louise-Anne
LA
McNutt
D000293:Adolescent; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital