title: Emergency contraception: Awareness, attitudes and barriers of Saudi Arabian Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge, attitude, and barriers about emergency contraception (EC) among married women of child bearing age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period, commencing in March 2013 at Family Practice Clinics of King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a structured pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 242 women were enrolled in the study. Only 6.2% (15/242) had some knowledge of EC and of these only two had ever used it. Health care professionals were the least reported source of EC information (6.6%, n=1). Majority (73.3%) had negative attitude toward EC being available over-the-counter without a prescription. The most common barriers to using EC were concerns about possible health effects. Only two women (13.3%) considered religious belief as a major hindrance to its use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of emergency contraception is very low among women of Saudi Arabia. Health care professionals were the least reported source of information, which is a cause for concern. Our findings reveal an urgent need to educate women about EC, keeping in view the social norms and the Islamic values.
authors: Dr. Syed Irfan Karim, FRCGP. Assistant Professor & Consultant Family Medicine, Deputy Director Family Medicine Residency Training, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Syed Irfan
authors: SI
authors: Karim
authors: Dr. Farhana Irfan, MRCGP. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, King Saud University Chair for Medical Education Research and Development, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Farhana
authors: F
authors: Irfan
authors: Dr. Norah Al Rowais, SBFM. Associate Professor & Consultant Family Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Norah Al
authors: NA
authors: Rowais
authors: Dr. Basma Al Zahrani, SBFM. Senior Registrar, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Basma Al
authors: BA
authors: Zahrani
authors: Prof. Riaz Qureshi, FRCGP. Distinguished Professor Family Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Riaz
authors: R
authors: Qureshi
authors: Dr. Bedoor Hassan Al Qadrah, MBBS. Resident, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Bedoor H Al
authors: BH
authors: Qadrah
keywords: Awareness; Emergency Contraception; Family Physician; Saudi Arabia