Sandi L Pruitt1, Patricia Dolan Mullen. 1. Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Media portrayals of emergency contraception (EC) may influence public health policy and the public's acceptance of this reproductive health option. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the accuracy of newspaper coverage of EC, 1992-2002. METHODS: We conducted a content analysis of a sample of 1077 articles in 113 newspapers discussing both EC and abortion and determined the frequency of confusion between the two. RESULTS: Of all articles, 44.5% (n = 479) included at least one instance of confusion between EC and medical abortion. Inaccurate portrayal of the mode of action of EC as medical abortion occurred in 31.8% (n = 343) of articles; 13.1% (n = 141) inappropriately applied terms such as "abortifacient postcoital contraceptives" for EC. CONCLUSIONS: Errors were prevalent, persisted over time and may have contributed to incorrect beliefs about a form of contraception that is used infrequently, despite its potential to deter unintended pregnancy and abortion.
BACKGROUND: Media portrayals of emergency contraception (EC) may influence public health policy and the public's acceptance of this reproductive health option. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the accuracy of newspaper coverage of EC, 1992-2002. METHODS: We conducted a content analysis of a sample of 1077 articles in 113 newspapers discussing both EC and abortion and determined the frequency of confusion between the two. RESULTS: Of all articles, 44.5% (n = 479) included at least one instance of confusion between EC and medical abortion. Inaccurate portrayal of the mode of action of EC as medical abortion occurred in 31.8% (n = 343) of articles; 13.1% (n = 141) inappropriately applied terms such as "abortifacient postcoital contraceptives" for EC. CONCLUSIONS: Errors were prevalent, persisted over time and may have contributed to incorrect beliefs about a form of contraception that is used infrequently, despite its potential to deter unintended pregnancy and abortion.
Authors: Sandi W Smith; Samantha Nazione; Carolyn Laplante; Michael R Kotowski; Charles Atkin; Christine M Skubisz; Cynthia Stohl Journal: J Health Commun Date: 2009 Apr-May
Authors: Magdalena Zgliczynska; Iwona Szymusik; Aleksandra Sierocinska; Armand Bajaka; Martyna Rowniak; Nicole Sochacki-Wojcicka; Miroslaw Wielgos; Katarzyna Kosinska-Kaczynska Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-07-30 Impact factor: 3.390