Nursing Students' Knowledge, Awareness, and Experiences of Emergency Contraception Pills' Use

"A Lot of My Friends Don't Know How It Works": Student Activists Describe Gaps in College Students' Emergency Contraception Knowledge

INTRODUCTION

Despite the high potential need for emergency contraception (EC) among college students, lack of accurate knowledge may decrease the likelihood of its use in this population. We examined knowledge about EC methods, potential outcomes of use, and access among college students in the United States.

METHODS

We recruited college students from a listserv devoted to EC campus activism for an online survey about EC knowledge (N = 150) and conducted 24 follow-up in-depth interviews. We describe the share of respondents that correctly answered each question and provide additional context and insight from interview respondents.

RESULTS

Gaps in EC knowledge were noted in our sample of college student EC activists. Awareness of different methods of EC was not universal; 38% of the sample was unaware of ulipristal acetate (ella®) and 61% was unaware of the intrauterine device inserted after intercourse as EC. Many respondents also incorrectly perceived additional barriers to acquiring EC such as minimum age or an ID requirement to purchase EC (64% and 49%, respectively). Interview respondents describe how medical providers, such as student health services and pharmacists, can pose barriers to EC access through either their actions or how college students expect they will act.

CONCLUSIONS

We document several gaps in knowledge surrounding EC in college students, even in an activist sample. Additional efforts to inform students about the variety of available EC methods and address mistaken perceptions about barriers to access may allow college students to better meet their needs for EC.

Special Issue "New Insights into Contraception"

Today, a diverse range of contraceptive techniques is available to women; this, coupled with continued positive trends in female children and adults' educational attainment, will hasten declines in fertility and continue to slow population growth [...].

Women’s Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services during Confinement Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenge for women’s sexual and reproductive health care. The objective of this research was to analyse access to sexual and reproductive health services during confinement in Spain. (2) Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample that was stratified by age in July and August 2020. (3) Results: A total of 1800 women were invited to participate, obtaining a response rate of 98.72%. The frequency of sexual relationships reduced during confinement. Counselling was offered both in person (30.7%) and telematically (39%), although there were also women who experienced access problems (30%). Of those women who required some LARC, only half had access to it, mainly due to the contact difficulties as a result of the limited number of consultations with their prescribing physicians. The use of emergency oral contraception and the use of services for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy were considerably reduced. The women who stated having been victims of gender-based violence were those that lived with their aggressors during confinement and had children. (4) Conclusions: It is necessary to ensure sexual and reproductive rights in confinement times and, for such a purpose, telemedicine can be a good tool that helps to avoid unmet contraceptive needs and unplanned pregnancies.

Results of the National Contraception Survey Conducted by Sociedad Española de Contracepción (2020)

Background: The National Contraception Survey conducted by Sociedad Española de Contracepción intends to know the sexual and contraceptive habits of Spanish women of reproductive age. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study with random sample selection was conducted with women aged from 14 to 49 years old in July and August 2020. Results: A total of 1801 women participated in the study, of which 78.7% used some contraception method during their sexual relationships. The most frequently used methods were condoms (31.3%) and combined oral contraceptives (18.5%) at their last sexual encounter. A total of 25.7% used both condoms and pills, especially younger women and those who had no steady partners (p < 0.001). Use of Long-acting Reversible Contraceptives continues to be low, although a slight increase in their use is observed, and they are recommended for 50% of the users who need contraception. Counselling on contraception was provided to 64.3% of the women, mainly by their gynaecologists. Regarding the decision to use a contraceptive method, the one suggested by health professionals was more influential, although this was not the case for women aged less than 20 years old (p < 0.001). A total of 38.4% of the women have used emergency oral contraception at least once and 66.8% of those who do not make continuous use of contraception methods do so out of personal choice. Conclusions: It is necessary to deepen work on counselling and awareness among the population towards the use of efficient contraceptive methods that prevent unplanned pregnancies.