Predictors of Women’s Emergency Contraception Use and Men’s Support of Partner’s Use among College Students

Background: The unintended pregnancy rate in the United States is high, and emergency contraception (EC) is a birth control method that prevents unintended pregnancies. Despite the fact that many college campuses provide access to EC, undergraduate college students have relatively high rates of unintended pregnancies. Purpose: This study examined whether perceptions and knowledge regarding EC use were associated with women’s intentions to use EC, and men’s intentions to support their partner’s EC use. Methods: This study utilized a convenience sample of 96 female and 118 male southern California community college undergraduate students. Results: Women had stronger intentions to use EC if they thought they could successfully obtain it at a pharmacy, while men reported they were more likely to support a partner’s use if they thought that EC use is morally acceptable. Conclusions: The findings suggest that increasing women’s knowledge about the accessibility of EC may lead to increased use of EC if needed. Men’s moral stance regarding EC use may impact the degree to which they will support their female partners using EC. Further implications are discussed. © 2014 Californian Journal of Health Promotion. All rights reserved.