Pharmacy access to the emergency contraceptive pill: a national survey of a random sample of Australian women

Hobbs, Melissa K.; Taft, Angela J.; Amir, Lisa H.; Stewart, Kay; Shelley, Julia M.; Smith, Anthony M.; Chapman, Colin B.; Hussainy, Safeera Y.

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2010.06.003

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Volume 83, Issue 2 , Pages 151-158, February 2011

Pharmacy access to the emergency contraceptive pill: a national survey of a random sample of Australian women☆

Melissa K. Hobbs
- Mother and Child Health Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 8341 8547; fax: +61 3 8341 8555.
Angela J. Taft
- Mother and Child Health Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Lisa H. Amir
- Mother and Child Health Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Kay Stewart
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
Julia M. Shelley
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood VIC 3125, Australia
Anthony M. Smith
- Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Colin B. Chapman
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
Safeera Y. Hussainy
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia

Received 22 December 2009; received in revised form 1 June 2010; accepted 2 June 2010. published online 20 July 2010.

Abstract

Background

The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) has the potential to assist in reducing unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. Since its rescheduling to pharmacy availability without prescription in Australia in January 2004, there is little information about Australian women's knowledge, attitudes and use of the ECP. The aim of this study was to measure the knowledge about the ECP and sociodemographic patterns of and barriers to use of the ECP.

Study Design

A cross-sectional study, using a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) survey conducted with a national random sample of 632 Australian women aged 16–35 years.

Results

Most women had heard of the ECP (95%) and 26% had used it. The majority of women agreed with pharmacy availability of the ECP (72%); however, only 48% were aware that it was available from pharmacies without a prescription. About a third (32%) believed the ECP to be an abortion pill. The most common reason for not using the ECP was that women did not think they were at risk of getting pregnant (57%). Logistic regression showed that women aged 20–29 years (OR 2.58; CI: 1.29–5.19) and 30–35 years (OR 3.16; CI: 1.47–6.80) were more likely to have used the ECP than those aged 16–19 years. Women with poor knowledge of the ECP were significantly less likely to have used it than those with very good knowledge (OR 0.28; CI: 0.09–0.77). Those in a de facto relationship (OR 2.21; CI: 1.27–3.85), in a relationship but not living with the partner (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.31–4.63) or single women (OR 2.40; CI: 1.33–4.34) were more likely to have used the ECP than married women.

Conclusions

Women in Australia have a high level of awareness of the ECP, but more information and education about how to use it and where to obtain it are still needed.

Keywords: Emergency contraceptive pills, Pharmacy access, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice