Abstract
Background
California allowed women access to emergency contraception (EC) without a physicians'
prescription in 2002.
Methods
To assess knowledge of and perceived access to EC among California women outside of
family planning settings, we administered a computerized survey to women, age 18���45
years, who could become pregnant, in the waiting areas of two urgent care clinics
in San Francisco in 2005.
Results
Four hundred forty-six women were enrolled. Most women [87%; 95% confidence interval
(95% CI), 83���89%] in this well-educated (48% had college degrees), ethnically diverse
sample knew that a postcoital contraceptive exists. However, many women (32%; 95%
CI, 28���37%) did not know EC is currently available in California. Only 49% of women
knew that using EC will have no adverse effect on their future fertility and only
15% knew that EC will not cause a miscarriage or birth defects if used by a woman
who is pregnant. Seven percent thought EC was not at all effective and 27% thought
EC was somewhat or very unsafe. Eight percent had EC at home for future use.
Conclusions
Functional knowledge of EC remains limited in California. Public education campaigns
are needed to allow women to benefit from pharmacy direct access to EC.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 17, 2007
Accepted:
November 15,
2006
Received in revised form:
November 15,
2006
Received:
September 29,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
