Many students were wrong about details
of emergency contraception - such as
how and when it works - in ways that might
prevent them from taking it.
Image: iStockphoto

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.