Media Release
June 3 2009
Emergency contraception confusion leaves students vulnerable
A
UniSA study of more than 600 first year university students has revealed
poor knowledge about emergency contraception.
Led by expert sexual health nurse
Dr Helen Calabretto from UniSA’s School of Nursing and Midwifery,
the project will help to inform new approaches to education about
emergency contraception.
Dr Calabretto said she is concerned by some of the study results, which
have been published in the June issue of the
Australian and New Zealand
Journal of Public Health.
“Only 38 per cent of the group knew that emergency contraception is
available over-the-counter at pharmacies and a similar number were also
unaware of other places of access,” Dr Calabretto said.
“Knowledge about other issues such as side effects of taking it and how
it actually works was also quite poor.”
She said some respondents - 27 per cent of females and 21 per cent of
males - thought emergency contraception can only be used the morning
after unprotected sex, when in fact it can be taken up to 120 hours
afterwards.
About half of the participants also believed, incorrectly, that taking
emergency contraception causes an abortion.
“They were quite unaware of the actions of the medication - that it
actually thickens the cervical mucus, delays ovulation, changes the
uterine lining and slows down sperm movement, therefore preventing
pregnancy from occurring,” Dr Calabretto said.
She said males knew less than females about emergency contraception in a
number of areas.
“I am concerned that poor knowledge about the timing, accessibility,
action and side effects of emergency contraception may act as a barrier
to its use in the event of unprotected sexual intercourse,” Dr
Calabretto said.
“Many people still refer to emergency contraception as ‘the morning
after pill’ and this can contribute to some of the confusion.”
“A recent Australian study shows that by the end of high school, 46 per
cent of females and 48 per cent of males report having sexual
intercourse, so it is important that the community is aware of the range
of contraceptive options available.”
Her study revealed that 59 per cent of respondents would consider using
emergency contraception while 23 per cent were unsure and 17 per cent
would not consider it.
Dr Calabretto said there needed to be greater education about emergency
contraception to improve overall community knowledge about this method.
She said health professionals who provide contraception should discuss
emergency contraception with clients.
Emergency contraception has been available over-the-counter at
pharmacies since 2004, as well as through a GP and other areas such as
youth health, women’s health centres and family planning clinics.
Contact for interview
-
Dr Helen Calabretto office (08) 8302 2662 mobile 0423 291 632 email
helen.calabretto@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Katrina Kalleske office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email katrina.kalleske@unisa.edu.au