A F Gordon1, P Owen. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the knowledge of emergency contraception in women attending hospital for termination of pregnancy in 1984 and 1996. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey. SETTING: Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. SUBJECTS: Cohorts of 100 consecutive women undergoing termination of pregnancy in 1984 and 1996. RESULTS: Over this 12 year period, there has been a significant improvement in the knowledge of emergency contraception. Seventy three per cent had a good knowledge of the postcoital pill in 1996 compared to 12 per cent in 1984 (p=</=0.0001). There has been a significant rise in the use of condoms (60 per cent vs 32 per cent; p=</=0.001) and the number of conceptions due to condom accidents (38 per cent vs eight per cent; p=</=0.0001). Although most women in the 1996 cohort recognised a reason for contraceptive failure and had adequate knowledge of emergency contraception, only 17 per cent considered the possibility of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Poor knowledge of postcoital contraception is no longer a major factor leading to the failure of women to obtain emergency contraception. Improved uptake in the use of emergency contraception is likely to result from a greater awareness of the possibility of condom failure and easier availability of the postcoital pill.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the knowledge of emergency contraception in women attending hospital for termination of pregnancy in 1984 and 1996. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey. SETTING: Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. SUBJECTS: Cohorts of 100 consecutive women undergoing termination of pregnancy in 1984 and 1996. RESULTS: Over this 12 year period, there has been a significant improvement in the knowledge of emergency contraception. Seventy three per cent had a good knowledge of the postcoital pill in 1996 compared to 12 per cent in 1984 (p=</=0.0001). There has been a significant rise in the use of condoms (60 per cent vs 32 per cent; p=</=0.001) and the number of conceptions due to condom accidents (38 per cent vs eight per cent; p=</=0.0001). Although most women in the 1996 cohort recognised a reason for contraceptive failure and had adequate knowledge of emergency contraception, only 17 per cent considered the possibility of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Poor knowledge of postcoital contraception is no longer a major factor leading to the failure of women to obtain emergency contraception. Improved uptake in the use of emergency contraception is likely to result from a greater awareness of the possibility of condom failure and easier availability of the postcoital pill.
Entities:
Keywords:
Abortion Seekers; Abortion, Induced; Comparative Studies; Contraception; Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptive Agents, Postcoital; Contraceptive Availability; Developed Countries; Europe; Family Planning; Fertility Control, Postcoital; Fertility Control, Postconception; Knowledge--changes; Northern Europe; Research Methodology; Research Report; Sampling Studies; Studies; Surveys; United Kingdom