The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69702

Corinne Rocca, MPH¹, Tina Raine, MD, MPH², Cynthia C. Harper, PhD³, Phillip Darney, MD, MSc⁴, and Felicia Stewart, MD⁴. (1) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, Box 0744, San Francisco, CA 94143-0744, 415-502-8470, roccac@obgyn.ucsf.edu, (2) Department of OB/GYN, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Ward 6D, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94110, (3) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California San Francisco, Box 0744, 3333 California Street, Ste. 335, San Francisco, CA 94143-0744, (4) Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California at San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA 93118

Direct distribution of emergency contraception (EC) by pharmacists has been hailed as a promising way to increase access to the method. In January 2001, the California legislature passed SB1169, allowing women to obtain EC from trained pharmacists without a prescription. Although an increasing number of states are passing similar laws, no randomized controlled study has evaluated the impact of this rapidly emerging delivery mode on women’s use of the method and on perceptions and attitudes towards EC. Perceptions about the medication may be as important as the actual change in access through pharmacies in order for women to use EC when needed. We conducted a trial to assess the impact of increased pharmacy access on women’s attitudes towards EC; their knowledge about how to obtain EC; and their willingness to use it. From July 2001 to October 2002, we randomly assigned 2,117 family planning clinic clients, aged 15-24, to three EC distribution arms: 1) direct pharmacy access, 2) advanced provision, and 3) standard clinic access. Women were interviewed at baseline and six months on knowledge and attitudes about EC. A third of participants (32%) had ever been pregnant, and 27% had had a previous abortion. At baseline, almost all participants (93%) had heard of emergency contraception, and 35% had used it prior to entry into the study. Using multivariate regression analysis, we will examine differences between women with different access to EC and changes in perceptions about the method over time, as the pharmacy access law in California was implemented.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss how perceptions of emergency contraception change when women have easier access to the method through pharmacies or have supplies on hand;
• Describe how women’s attitudes towards emergency contraception change over time as expanded pharmacy legislation is implemented in California;
• Recognize how attitudinal changes towards emergency contraception can influence women’s ability to obtain and willingness to use the method when needed.

Keywords: Family Planning, Access to Health Care

Related Web page: reprohealth.ucsf.edu/Research--Family%20Planning--epi.htm#EC

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Plan B supplies used in this trial were donated by the Women's Capital Corporation.
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.