The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7229 p880
21/28 December 2002

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
BMJ: abstract (more)

Emergency contraception options not always used

Uptake of emergency contraception among young women, especially those from deprived inner city areas, is influenced by perceptions of low risk of pregnancy and concerns about what others think, a qualitative study has shown.

Researchers interviewed 30 women aged 16–25 years from London who attended family planning clinics, youth groups and hostels for the homeless, to explore the role of social context in the use of emergency contraception. They found that attitudes and concerns of women, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, might make them less willing or able to take advantage of increased emergency contraception availability.

Some women did not seek emergency contraception because they thought that the risk of pregnancy was small when they missed or did not use contraception. In addition, experienced users of contraception said that over time they started to believe they were less at risk of pregnancy and relaxed their use of contraception.

Women also reported that they saw the need for emergency contraception as a personal failing and felt ashamed to ask for it. "Women ... wanted to dissociate themselves from any negative connotations about themselves or their relationship if they sought emergency contraception," the researchers say. Limited knowledge, problems in accessing emergency contraception and concerns about side effects also influenced non-use.

The researchers add that attitudes of pharmacists and general practitioners also affected decisions about whether to seek emergency contraception. "Consultations that focused largely on the risks that had been taken made the women feel told off and reluctant to reattend," they say.

The study is published in the BMJ (2002;325:1393).