Provision of emergency hormonal contraception through community pharmacies in a rural area

Abstract

Objectives The provision of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) through community pharmacies was introduced in Hambleton and Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, UK in December 2001 to contribute to the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. The study aimed to establish how well the service is used, whether it is reaching the original target group, why people use the service and where it is accessed.Methods This was a descriptive study conducted in a rural primary care trust.Results From 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2003, there were 1412 pharmacy consultations for EHC and 1260 courses of EHC provided. General practitioner (GP) prescribing of EHC decreased but there was an overall increase in provision of EHC from pharmacies, GPs, family planning clinics, and accident and emergency departments. By December 2003, community pharmacies had become the largest provider of EHC. ConclusionsThe supply of EHC through community pharmacies provided clients with wider choice and improved access to services, which resulted in increased overall provision of EC in this rural area. G Community pharmacies became the main point of access but did not replace other points of access.

Availability of Emergency Contraception in Rural and Urban Pharmacies in Kansas

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Reaching Youth With Out-of-Facility HIV and Reproductive Health Services: A Systematic Review

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Pharmacy Access to Emergency Contraception in Rural and Frontier Communities

“…A large study in British Columbia indicated that pharmacist provision of EC was associated with a 102% overall increase in EC use, including a substantial increase in rural areas 12 . Lloyd conducted a study of EC provision through pharmacies in two rural British communities and found the total number of EC prescriptions increased (particularly among teens), and pharmacies became the largest provider of EC 13 . A 2003 study surveyed 501 South Dakota pharmacists, 53% of whom were rural, regarding EC knowledge and attitudes 14 .…”