Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, India.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2013 Aug;122(2):99-103. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.03.016. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
To assess knowledge, attitudes, and barriers associated with the practice of emergency contraception (EC) among women from the state of Sikkim, India.
Between November 15, 2011, and June 14, 2012, trained female medical officers and interns used a standard questionnaire to interview 1474 women of reproductive age attending 2 outpatient gynecology clinics.
Of those who agreed to participate, 40.6% had ever heard of EC, and EC awareness was particularly low (6.4%) among illiterate women. The most common sources of EC information were electronic media (77.1%), friends and relatives (33.8%), and health personnel (30.4%). Overall, 71.9% of the participants who had heard of EC did not know the timeframe when it should be used. Only 19.6% of the women who had ever heard of EC had adequate knowledge of it, and only 15.1% of these (or 6.1% of the total sample) had ever used EC. The most common barriers to using EC were inadequate knowledge of it, its perceived non-availability, considering it an abortifacient, and religious beliefs.
Knowledge and practice of EC was low among the women interviewed. There is a need for intensive information EC on the available methods and their correct timing.
评估印度锡金邦女性对紧急避孕（EC）实践相关知识、态度和障碍的认识。
2011 年 11 月 15 日至 2012 年 6 月 14 日期间，经过培训的女性医务人员和实习医生使用标准问卷对 2 家妇产科门诊的 1474 名育龄妇女进行了访谈。
在同意参与的妇女中，40.6%听说过 EC，而文化程度低的妇女对 EC 的认识特别低（6.4%）。EC 信息的最常见来源是电子媒体（77.1%）、朋友和亲戚（33.8%）以及卫生人员（30.4%）。总体而言，71.9%听说过 EC 的参与者不知道何时应该使用它。只有 19.6%听说过 EC 的妇女对其有足够的了解，而这些妇女中只有 15.1%（或总样本的 6.1%）曾使用过 EC。使用 EC 的最常见障碍是对其认识不足、认为其不可用、将其视为堕胎药以及宗教信仰。
被访妇女对 EC 的知识和实践水平较低。需要加强对现有方法及其正确使用时机的 EC 信息宣传。
