The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7099 p832
June 3, 2000 News

Scottish EHC project needs a higher profile

A Scottish project to try to measure the effect of the availability of emergency contraception on the abortion rate, which began in September last year, is trying to raise greater awareness among women who might take part. The project organisers had hoped that publicity for the work would lead to women asking their general medical practitioners to let them have packs of Schering PC4 to keep at home in case they needed them. The packs are also available on request from family planning, genito-urinary and abortion clinics. Dr Anna Glasier (head of family planning and well women services, Lothian primary care trust) explained to The Journal on May 30 that fewer women than expected had asked for the tablets. "When they come to the clinic, the vast majority asked are happy to have it, but they are not asking for it themselves," Dr Glasier said. "Before we started we thought that women would jump at the chance and say 'can I have some' ". At her own clinic, only 10 women had asked for the product. Across the health board area, 4,000 supplies had been made. There were 2,500 abortions every year in the health board, half of them being in the 16- to 29-years-old age group.

Lothian's EHC project is aimed at reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions

There is now to be a mail-drop of postcards to all households in Lothian to try to raise the project's profile.
Promotional leaflets are also to be made available and Dr Glasier is asking all health professionals who can to help raise awareness of the project. She has suggested that community pharmacists could help by handing the leaflets or cards to all customers who buy condoms, or at least by placing the leaflets next to their condom displays.
"Condom buyers are the people most at risk," she commented.
When the project started community pharmacists had been asked to provide support, but little was forthcoming. Some pharmacists had been openly hostile.
Dr Glasier explained that she hoped to measure the effect of making EHC available by comparing the abortion rate in Lothian with that elsewhere in Scotland, particularly in Grampian. Data from the past few years showed that the trend in the abortion rate in Lothian was mirrored by changes in Grampian. It was hoped that changes in the relationship between the abortion rates in the two areas could be attributed to the free availability of EHC in one of them.
Pharmacists in Lothian who are willing to help can contact Dr Glasier on 0131 332 7941.