Emergency contraceptive pills: a survey of use and experiences at College Health Centers in the mid-Atlantic United States.

Abstract

The authors conducted a telephone survey to investigate the availability of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) at college health centers in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Related issues, such as distribution procedure, existence of an ECPs protocol, personnel involved, contraindications, follow-up procedures, methods of advertising, and staff attitudes were examined. Of the 124 completed responses, 43 schools (35%) reported distributing ECPs. The major reasons the schools listed for not distributing ECPs (n = 81, 65%) were inadequate staffing, religious convictions, no perceived need, and the service was available from a source in the local community.