Young women's accounts of factors influencing their use and non-use of emergency contraception: in-depth interview study
BMJ 2002; 325 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7377.1393 (Published 14 December 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;325:1393
- Caroline Free (caroline.free{at}kcl.ac.uk), NHS R&D national primary care training fellow⇑a,
- Raymond M Lee, professor of social research methodsb,
- Jane Ogden, reader in health psychologya
- a Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Guy's, King's College, and St Thomas's School of Medicine, London SE11 6SP
- b Department of Social and Political Science, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX
- Correspondence to: C Free
- Accepted 24 September 2002
Abstract
Objectives: To explore young women's accounts of their use and non-use of emergency contraception.
Design: Qualitative study using in-depth interviews.
Participants: 30 women aged 16-25; participants from socially deprived inner city areas were specifically included.
Setting: Community, service, and educational settings in England.
Results: Young women's accounts of their non-use of emergency contraception principally concerned evaluations of the risk conferred by different contraceptive behaviours, their evaluations of themselves in needing emergency contraception, and personal difficulties in asking for emergency contraception.
Conclusions: The attitudes and concerns of young women, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, may make them less able or willing than others to take advantage of recent increases in access to emergency contraception. Interventions that aim to increase the use of emergency contraception need to address the factors that influence young women's non-use of emergency contraception.
What is already known on this topic
What is already known on this topic Limited knowledge of, or poor access to, emergency contraception, and concerns about side effects and moral issues may reduce the use of emergency contraception in women at risk
Young people can be embarrassed about using contraception services
Interventions to increase knowledge of and access to emergency contraception have had limited success among teenagers
What this study adds
What this study adds Perceptions of low vulnerability to pregnancy, negative self evaluations about the need for such contraception, and concerns about what others think deter young women from using emergency contraception
These women find it difficult to ask for emergency contraception
The attitudes and concerns of young women, especially those from deprived inner city areas, may render them least willing and able to obtain emergency contraception
Footnotes
Funding Department of Health as part of the national primary care training fellowship.
Competing interests None declared.