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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Terri L. Walsh, MPH1, Anna L. García1, and Ron Frezieres, MSPH2. (1) Research Division, California Family Health Council, Inc., 3600 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (2) Research, California Family Health Council, Inc, 3600 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90010
In 2001, the California Family Health Council sponsored an emergency contraception initiative directed at medical providers who serve low-income Latino neighborhoods. The goal of the initiative was to promote the practice of providing emergency contraception to family planning clients in advance of need. The initiative distributed over 250 free emergency contraception provider kits which contained protocols, sample consents, billing forms, and client educational materials. The initiative also conducted 140 technical assistance visits in which initiative staff assessed the provider’s current level of emergency contraception services and collected information about perceived barriers to emergency contraception services. Six months later, initiative staff completed a follow-up survey to evaluate the impact on the provision of emergency contraception services.
At the time of the technical assistance visit, most providers did not routinely provide emergency contraception education (15%) or materials (39%) to their clients. Providers averaged 4 prescriptions per month and only 12% prescribed emergency contraception in advance of need. By the six-month follow-up survey, the percentage of providers routinely educating their clients about emergency contraception tripled (from 15% to 47%) and the percentage of providers distributing materials doubled (from 39% to 88%). The mean number of emergency contraception prescriptions rose from 4 to 6 prescriptions per month. There was a modest increase in the percentage of providers who offered prescriptions in advance of need (from 12% to 19%).
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.