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REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Emergency Contraception Emergency contraception fills an important niche in the range of contraceptive options available to women and couples. Emergency contraception is an increased dose of regular oral contraceptive pills used within 72 hours after unprotected sex to reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant.
The Population Council has conducted studies on emergency contraception throughout the world, including clinical trials to identify simpler regimens and to extend the time limit of use and operations research studies on the introduction of emergency contraception in a number of countries. The goal of the research is to mainstream the method through both national family planning programs and the private sector. Recent research findings include the following: In both developed- and developing-country settings new modes of service delivery were explored, including nonprescription pharmacy and over-the-counter access to emergency contraception. In Europe, the Council worked with colleagues in France, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden to gather information about pharmacy access to emergency contraception. Data collection is complete and a draft manuscript is currently being prepared for publication. Preliminary analysis shows that women in these four countries found pharmacy access to emergency contraception quite acceptable. In Bangladesh, an operations research study on the introduction of emergency contraception in the country was completed by the Council's Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program. The study confirmed the acceptability of emergency contraception. Based upon these findings, the government of Bangladesh approved the introduction of emergency contraception pills in the national family planning program. In the first phase of scale-up, emergency contraception pills will be made available from all service centers in 17 districts (serving a total population of about 50 million). UNFPA has agreed to provide supplies and financial support for organizing training programs for master trainers. In Honduras, a three-year study aims to expand knowledge of and access to emergency contraception. The project consists of three main activities: a baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey and a follow-up survey; dissemination of survey results to providers and policymakers; and the adaptation of Spanish-language emergency contraception materials (e.g., postcards and flyers) to the Honduras setting. In Mexico, a unique, multi-year project aims to increase the public’s
knowledge about emergency contraception as a contraceptive option by
providing an emergency contraception hotline and an informational Web site.
The operation and maintenance of the hotline and Web site was turned over to
DKT, an international social marketing research nongovernmental
organization.
In Senegal, a survey of emergency contraception was completed and a preliminary report prepared. This study demonstrates that although emergency contraception has been known among some Senegalese providers and an over-the-counter product has been marketed for nearly a year, few potential clients know about the method. In South Africa, interviews are being conducted with pharmacists to evaluate their knowledge of emergency contraception and to identify areas where pharmacists may need support or training following the recent policy by the Medicines Control Council to move all emergency contraception products to pharmacy provision. Related Council activities in sub-Saharan Africa include support of ECafrique, a bilingual, international network of health care and business professionals, development specialists, and scientists seeking to expand the availability of emergency contraception services in Africa. The network's goal is to build the knowledge and experience base needed to introduce, deliver, and mainstream quality emergency contraception services in countries where there is an unmet need for this product.The Population Council also continues to participate with the American Society for Emergency Contraception, a society the Council helped to found, to share information among groups focusing on emergency contraception. Projects
Publications/Resources on this issue See Also
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