Acceptance and use of emergency contraception with standardized counseling intervention: results of a randomized controlled trial☆☆☆

Abstract 

Objective

The objective of this work was to evaluate the acceptance, use and recall of an optional advance prescription for emergency contraception (EC).

Materials and methods

This study used as randomized controlled trial evaluating contraceptive counseling intervention with women aged 16–44 years who were at risk for unintended pregnancy (N=737). Intervention participants (n=365) received contraceptive counseling with optional advance EC prescription. Control women (n=372) received no contraceptive or EC counseling. Among intervention participants, initial acceptance and use of EC in first 2 months were evaluated. Among all participants, differences were evaluated between recall of EC discussion and use of EC.

Results

Among 365 intervention women, 336 received EC counseling and 51% of these 336 accepted advance EC prescription. At 2 months, among the women who had accepted EC, 6% had filled and used their prescription and 8% had filled but not used their prescription. At 12 months, intervention women were significantly more likely than controls to recall talking about EC (33% vs. 5%) and obtaining a prescription (38% vs. 6%), but there were no differences in the use of EC (6% vs. 6%).

Conclusion

When the option is available for EC counseling, approximately half of women accepted advance prescription for EC. However, few women who received information and/or an advance prescription remembered discussing EC, filled the prescription or used EC over 12 months.

Keywords: Emergency contraception, Contraception, Health services, Unintended pregnancy