A Survey of Knowledge and Perceptions towards Emergency Contraceptives among Women of Bijapur, South India

Emergency contraceptives (EC) give woman a second chance to prevent unwanted pregnancy from unprotected intercourse. The importance of EC becomes even more in India with high prevalence of unmet need for family planning. This study was done to assess the knowledge about emergency contraceptives among women. A crosssectional study was done among 300 married women residing in an urban slum of Bijapur & data was obtained using a prestructured questionnaire. Of the 300 women participated in the study, only 68(22.7%) heard of emergency contraception. Majority 65(21.6%) of these women knew about hormonal method of EC. Only 12(4%) knew the correct timing of EC pills. Mass media (15.3%) was major source of information and private hospitals (17.6%) were main source for availing service. The knowledge of emergency contraceptives is poor among women. Improved IEC activities will help to create awareness & better utilization of emergency contraceptives, thus preventing morbidity and mortality from unwanted pregnancy and childbirth.