Awareness of emergency contraceptive pills among female patients of family planning unit of tertiary care teaching hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Background: In India, sizeable population of pregnancies are either unplanned or unwanted and thus these pregnancies add to the population burden or the women may resort to pregnancy termination by traditional or harmful methods leading to serious health consequences. Emergency contraception, developed from trials and research during the past 10 years with aim to cut down the occurrence of unwanted and unintended pregnancies and abortion is one most important step being taken to solve the problem. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess the awareness regarding contraception and emergency contraceptive pills among female patients of reproductive age group and to evaluate any association between marital status, type of family and family member as a sister, education, and awareness about contraception and emergency contraceptive pills. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age group over a period of 3 months after obtaining written informed consent. Data were collected regarding demographic parameters, knowledge of different contraceptive measures, and emergency contraceptive pills using an anonymous pretested structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel sheet and Medcalc software. Results: A total of 253 women were included in the study. Majority of them were married (94.5%), literate (74.7%), belong to joint family (71.5%), having no history of abortion (69.2%), and having sister in their family (76.7%). About 67.2% know contraceptive methods and the most common source of information was a hospital (58.3%). About 15% were aware of emergency contraceptive pills and audio-visual (71%) is the most common source of information. Awareness about contraception was more in literate women and opposite to this awareness about emergency contraceptives pills was more in illiterate women. Those having sister in their family having more knowledge about contraception and emergency contraceptive pills. Conclusions: Awareness about emergency contraceptive pills is very low. Education can play important role either directly or indirectly to create awareness about emergency contraceptive pills.