RESUMO
Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitude, and barriers about emergency contraception [EC] among married women of child bearing age
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted over a 6-month period, commencing in March 2013 at Family Practice Clinics of King Khalid University Hospital [KKUH], Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a structured pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software
Result: A total of 242 women were enrolled in the study. Only 6.2% [15/242] had some knowledge of EC and of these only two had ever used it. Health care professionals were the least reported source of EC information [6.6%, n=1]. Majority [73.3%] had negative attitude toward EC being available over-the-counter without a prescription. The most common barriers to using EC were concerns about possible health effects. Only two women [13.3%] considered religious belief as a major hindrance to its use
Conclusion: Awareness of emergency contraception is very low among women of Saudi Arabia. Health care professionals were the least reported source of information, which is a cause for concern. Our findings reveal an urgent need to educate women about EC, keeping in view the social norms and the Islamic values