Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding emergency contraception among married women in Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Abstract

Background: An unwanted and unintended pregnancy is a major concern in a women’s life as it has its adverse social and health outcomes. Emergency contraception (EC) is safe and effective method that gives women a second chance to prevent unwanted pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.Methods: This is a community based cross sectional study done in field practice area under the department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab. A total of 400 respondents were selected by stratified random sampling from the list of eligible couples residing in the area. The interview was conducted using semi structured questionnaire, after obtaining their informed consent.Results: The mean age of respondents was 31.44±5.67 years. 68.7% of respondents were using some kind of contraception. Majority (68%) of respondents had heard of emergency contraception and for majority (81.3%) source of information about EC was Media (TV). Out of 272 respondents who had heard of emergency contraception 146 (54.1%) had negative attitude towards emergency contraception and only 30 (8%) had used ECP. Practice of ECP was found to have statistically significant association with employment and history of unwanted pregnancy.Conclusions: EC has a potential to curb the menace of unintended pregnancy thereby decreasing unsafe abortion and maternal mortality. In spite of reasonable awareness of emergency contraception, as found in present study there is wide gap for its usage. Hence behavioural change strategies should be considered to bring attitudinal change on use of emergency contraception.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards emergency contraceptive pills and factors hindering its use among femareproductive age group visiting urban health centre at Rajbiraj, Nepal

“…Contrary to study done among married women in Ludhiana, Panjab where 54.1% of respondents who have heard of EC had negative attitude towards ECPs, our result shows that majority of respondents (90%) who were aware of emergency contraceptive pills have positive attitude towards ECPs. 7 The result of this study correlate with the findings of a similar study conducted by Tesfaye et al and Verma et al that respondents have positive attitude towards ECPs in their respective studies. 19,22 In the present study, it is evident that 65% of respondents who are unaware of emergency contraceptive pills were less likely to utilize emergency contraceptive pills and out of 144 respondents, who were aware of ECPs, 63% has used it and majority of the nonusers revealed that they were using other contraceptive methods.…”

Knowledge awareness and practices of married women towards emergency contraceptives methods

“…The ability of women to control their own fertility is absolutely fundamental to women's empowerment and equality. 4 Emergency Contraception (EC) is a safe and extremely effective method which was introduced three decades ago as a means to reduce the rates of unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, and unwanted childbirth. In spite of being introduced in the National Family Welfare Programme in 2003 and later declared as an Over-the-counter drugs, (OTC) product in 2005 it still remains a grossly underutilized option in the prevention of pregnancy.…”

Emergency Contraceptive Methods Knowledge, Use and Related Factors of 15-49 Year Women in a Family Health Center

“…Saini ve ark. (6) 2018'de Hindistan'da 400 evli kadın üzerinde yaptıkları çalışmada tüm katılımcılar içinde istenmeyen gebelik oranı %27,3 olarak bulunmuştur.…”

“…Öte yandan Hindistan'da yapılan bir çalışmada en sık ulaşılan AKY hakkındaki bilgi kaynağının %81,3 ile televizyon olduğu bulunmuştur. Çalışmayı yapanlar bu durumun sağlıkçıların AKY'a karşı tavırda olabileceklerine yorumlamıştır (6) . Çalışmamızda eğitim düzeyi 8 yıl ve altı olanlar bu terimi %40,6 oranıyla ASM'den duymuştur.…”

“…Saini ve ark. (6) 2018'de Hindistan'da 400 evli kadın üzerinde yaptıkları çalışmada AGKY kullanımını %8 bulmuşlardır. TNSA 2018 de ise 15-49 yaş arası tüm kadınlarda AKY kullanım oranı %6,8 ve tüm evli kadınlarda ise %8,6 olarak bildirilmiştir (5) .…”