Knowledge, practices, and barriers concerning the use of emergency contraception among women of reproductive age at a university hospital of Aydin, Turkey

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the extent of knowledge and use of emergency contraception among women of reproductive age and to identify barriers existing in Turkey in this context. There is limited research regarding the knowledge and use and barriers to emergency contraception use, since the prepackaged form of hormonal emergency contraception has been available over the counter in Turkey. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 257 women. Data were collected through face to face interviews with a questionnaire on sociodemographic features, knowledge, use and barriers to emergency contraception. The rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions was noteworthy in the study, where 36.3% of the subjects revealed previous unintended pregnancies and 62.3% of them had undergone surgical termination or spontaneous loss. Remarkably, 42.1% of the respondents had never heard of emergency contraception. Common barriers to the use of emergency contraception were lack of awareness, misconceptions that the pills are abortion-inducing and unavailable without prescription, and anxiety about harming the fetus. The results indicated differences in practice, although emergency contraception is included in contraception counseling. Sixty percent of the subjects counseled by healthcare professionals stated that they were not informed about emergency contraception; a majority expressed a willingness to receive such information. Our study has revealed knowledge deficiency on the part of reproductive-aged women about the effective use, safety, mechanism of action, availability without prescription and legal status of emergency contraception. Client barriers were also found, particularly a lack of awareness. Healthcare professionals are in a key position to provide information and to overcome the barriers.