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Knowledge, attitudes, and use of emergency contraception among rural western North Carolina women.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fagan, EB; Boussios, HE; Moore, R; Galvin, SL
Published in: South Med J
August 2006

BACKGROUND: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and self-reported usage of emergency contraception (EC) in rural western North Carolina women. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey, with a convenience sample, participants self-administered the survey in waiting rooms of eight medical clinics in three counties in western North Carolina. Participants included 401 English-speaking women of childbearing age (18-44 years old) presenting for routine medical care during a three-month period in 2004. RESULTS: Of the 70.5% who responded, almost all (97%) were sexually active and most (92%) perceived an unintended pregnancy to be a problem. A majority of the participants (72%) were aware of EC, but only 7.5% of women reported usage in the last year. More than 80% of the surveyed women were uncertain if EC was the same as the abortion pill, RU-486. While only 16% of respondents indicated they had discussed EC with a doctor or another health professional, most women (89%) reported that doctors or other health professionals would be their first choice for accurate information about EC pills. CONCLUSIONS: Among western North Carolina women of childbearing age, EC is rarely used, perhaps because of confusion about its mechanism of action. Furthermore, EC is infrequently discussed with doctors. Since women indicate that health care providers would be their preferred choice for accurate information about EC, improved patient education by physicians about EC would be a first step in increasing knowledge among patients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

South Med J

DOI

ISSN

0038-4348

Publication Date

August 2006

Volume

99

Issue

8

Start / End Page

806 / 810

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sexual Behavior
  • Rural Population
  • Pregnancy, Unwanted
  • Pregnancy
  • Population Surveillance
  • North Carolina
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Education
  • General & Internal Medicine
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Fagan, E. B., Boussios, H. E., Moore, R., & Galvin, S. L. (2006). Knowledge, attitudes, and use of emergency contraception among rural western North Carolina women. South Med J, 99(8), 806–810. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.smj.0000224750.71182.95
Fagan, E Blake, H Eleni Boussios, Ruchi Moore, and Shelley L. Galvin. “Knowledge, attitudes, and use of emergency contraception among rural western North Carolina women.South Med J 99, no. 8 (August 2006): 806–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.smj.0000224750.71182.95.
Fagan EB, Boussios HE, Moore R, Galvin SL. Knowledge, attitudes, and use of emergency contraception among rural western North Carolina women. South Med J. 2006 Aug;99(8):806–10.
Fagan, E. Blake, et al. “Knowledge, attitudes, and use of emergency contraception among rural western North Carolina women.South Med J, vol. 99, no. 8, Aug. 2006, pp. 806–10. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/01.smj.0000224750.71182.95.
Fagan EB, Boussios HE, Moore R, Galvin SL. Knowledge, attitudes, and use of emergency contraception among rural western North Carolina women. South Med J. 2006 Aug;99(8):806–810.

Published In

South Med J

DOI

ISSN

0038-4348

Publication Date

August 2006

Volume

99

Issue

8

Start / End Page

806 / 810

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sexual Behavior
  • Rural Population
  • Pregnancy, Unwanted
  • Pregnancy
  • Population Surveillance
  • North Carolina
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Education
  • General & Internal Medicine