Uso de anticonceptivos de emergencia y percepción sobre sus perjuicios en estudiantes universitarias colombianas / Use of emergency contraception and knowledge about its harms on Colombian female university students i: en

Introducción: La educación sexual y reproductiva puede prevenir o reducir cualquier daño físico o mental, o ambos, ocasionado por las prácticas sexuales de riesgo y el uso inadecuado de métodos anticonceptivos. Objetivo: Describir el uso de anticonceptivos de emergencia en estudiantes universitarias y la percepción de estas en cuanto a los perjuicios de dichos métodos para la salud. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, de abril a octubre de 2021, de 372 féminas mayores de 18 años de edad, matriculadas en universidades ubicadas en Medellín, Colombia, quienes fueron seleccionadas mediante un muestreo no probabilístico. La información se obtuvo a través de una encuesta, en la cual se incluyeron variables relacionadas con el empleo de los anticonceptivos de emergencia y la percepción sobre sus perjuicios. Resultados: En la serie, 67,7 % de las jóvenes había usado anticonceptivos de emergencia, de las cuales 8,7 % refirió consumir hasta 3 píldoras de levonorgestrel al mes y 0,8 %, más de 10 durante un año; en tanto, 97,8 % consideró que este tipo de método afecta la salud. Entre los principales efectos secundarios figuraron los sangrados irregulares (65,8 %), las náuseas (31,7 %), los vómitos (31,7 %), la migraña (3,2 %) y los cambios de ánimo (25,4 %). Conclusiones: Aunque la mayoría de las estudiantes universitarias que usaban anticonceptivos de emergencia se guiaban por las recomendaciones médicas, un pequeño grupo lo hacía de manera inadecuada, lo cual se asoció a una baja percepción sobre los perjuicios de este método para la salud.

Introduction: Sexual and reproductive education can prevent or reduce any physical or mental harm, or both, caused by risky sexual practices and inadequate use of contraceptive methods. Objective: To describe the use of emergency contraception among female university students and their awareness regarding the harms of these methods for their health. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted, from April to October 2021, of 372 women over 18 years of age, enrolled in universities located in Medellin, Colombia, who were selected through non-probabilistic sampling. The information was obtained through a survey, which included variables related to the use of emergency contraception and the awareness of its harms. Results: In the series, 67.7% of the young women had used emergency contraceptives, of whom 8.7% reported consuming up to 3 levonorgestrel pills per month and 0.8% more than 10 during a year, while 97.8% considered that this type of method affects their health. Among the main adverse effects were irregular periods (65.8%), nausea (31.7%), vomiting (31.7%), migraine (3.2%) and mood changes (25.4%). Conclusions: Although most of female university students who used emergency contraceptives were guided by medical recommendations, a small group did so inappropriately, which was associated with a low perception of the health harms of this method.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of attitude and knowledge involving emergency oral contraceptive use in patients and healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND: Levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate are common emergency oral contraceptives (EOCs). Lack of knowledge and negative attitude toward EOCs pose barriers to the EOCs access and utilization. AIM: This study aimed to summarize the studies on the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers and patients on the use of EOCs. METHOD: A systematic search was conducted from conception to April 2022 using the following databases: CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Thai Journal Online. Data were extracted independently and were meta-analyzed using DerSimonian and Laird method for the binary random-effects model. RESULTS: 121 articles with a total number of 92,484 participants were included. The awareness of levonorgestrel as an EOC was 66.7% while the awareness of ulipristal acetate as an EOC was 36.9%. EOCs users received EOC information mainly from the internet, media, and friends. We found that 32.2% of EOCs users and providers agreed that EOCs acted post-fertilization, and 39.8% of the prescribers know the correct time to take the pill postcoital. Negative attitudes toward EOC use were found in 25.4% of the participants. For example, 39.4% of the participants agreed that EOCs users had increased sexual activity. CONCLUSION: The awareness of EOCs was low and misunderstandings or negative attitudes towards the use or prescription of EOCs were still prevalent. Educating healthcare providers, using media as educational tools, and improving education and economics can be useful in improving EOC users' awareness, knowledge, and attitude towards EOCs.

Development and Pilot Testing of a Dispensing Protocol on Emergency Contraceptive Pills for Community Pharmacists in Belgium.

Community pharmacists in Belgium frequently dispense emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). However, variable and insufficient counseling practices exist across pharmacies, highlighting the need for standardization and quality improvement strategies. The aim of this project was to develop and test an ECP dispensing protocol for pharmacists. An 'experience-based' co-design approach involving academic and practicing pharmacists was applied, followed by a 4-month test period and interviews to assess users' experiences. In total, eight geographically dispersed pharmacies participated. Pharmacists (n = 15) reached a consensus on most items to be included in the protocol, which was subsequently tested in seven pharmacies, with overall 97 registered ECP conversations. Pharmacists considered the protocol complete but felt that not all items should be mentioned/questioned during all conversations. They suggested only subtle modifications to be made prior to delivering a final protocol ready for nationwide distribution. Despite attributing positive effects to having a protocol, no single pharmacist 'actively' used it at-the-counter but used it instead as a 'checklist' after the encounter. Pharmacists found that the paper-based format of the protocol hindered protocol-based dispensing. Future research is needed to provide evidence on the actual benefits of protocol application, as well as to identify factors influencing the implementation of ECP dispensing using a software-integrated protocol.

[How Does Advance Provision of Emergency Contraceptives Affect Contraceptive Use and Sexual Activity Among Adolescents? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of emergency contraceptive pill on adolescent sexuality and contraceptive behaviors through a meta - analysis of intervention studies on advance provision of emergency contraceptives. This study aimed to provide objective data on the transition of general medicines to be discussed in relation to the reclassification of emergency contraceptive pills. METHODS: Using electronic database, 1,820 studies written in Korean or English without limitation of the year were reviewed and for analysis, 5 studies were selected, in which emergency contraceptives were provided to adolescents. RESULTS: The advance provision of emergency contraceptives has increased their use and shortened the time it takes to take contraceptive pills after unprotected sex. There was no change in the frequency of engaging in sexual intercourse and unprotected sex or in existing contraceptive behavior, pregnancy rates decreased, but there was no increase in sexually transmitted infection. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide objective grounds for the reclassification of emergency contraceptive pills and propose effective interventional programs on contraceptive education, such as on efficacy and side effects of the contraceptive drug and its proper use among the youth who engage in sexual activity, to improve their reproductive health.

How Does Advance Provision of Emergency Contraceptives Affect Contraceptive Use and Sexual Activity Among Adolescents? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of emergency contraceptive pill on adolescent sexuality and contraceptive behaviors through a meta - analysis of intervention studies on advance provision of emergency contraceptives. This study aimed to provide objective data on the transition of general medicines to be discussed in relation to the reclassification of emergency contraceptive pills. METHODS: Using electronic database, 1,820 studies written in Korean or English without limitation of the year were reviewed and for analysis, 5 studies were selected, in which emergency contraceptives were provided to adolescents. RESULTS: The advance provision of emergency contraceptives has increased their use and shortened the time it takes to take contraceptive pills after unprotected sex. There was no change in the frequency of engaging in sexual intercourse and unprotected sex or in existing contraceptive behavior, pregnancy rates decreased, but there was no increase in sexually transmitted infection. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide objective grounds for the reclassification of emergency contraceptive pills and propose effective interventional programs on contraceptive education, such as on efficacy and side effects of the contraceptive drug and its proper use among the youth who engage in sexual activity, to improve their reproductive health.

Population-based evaluation of the effectiveness of two regimens for emergency contraception.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare the effectiveness of the levonorgestrel and Yuzpe regimens for hormonal emergency contraception in routine clinical practice. METHODS: A retrospective population-based study included women who accessed emergency contraceptives for immediate use prescribed by community pharmacists in British Columbia, Canada, between December 2000 and December 2002. Linked administrative healthcare data were used to discern the timings of menses, unprotected intercourse, and any pregnancy-related health services. A panel of experts evaluated the compatibility of observed pregnancies with the timing of events. The two regimens were compared with statistical adjustments for potential confounding. RESULTS: Among 7493 women in the cohort, 4470 (59.7%) received levonorgestrel and 3023 (40.3%) the Yuzpe regimen. There were 99 (2.2%) compatible pregnancies in the levonorgestrel group and 94 (3.1%) in the Yuzpe group (P=0.017). The estimated odds ratio for levonorgestrel compared with the Yuzpe regimen after adjusting for potential confounders was 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.47-0.87). Against an expected pregnancy rate of approximately 5%, the relative and absolute risk reductions were 56.0% and 2.8%, respectively, for levonorgestrel and 36.7% and 1.8% for the Yuzpe regimen. CONCLUSION: The levonorgestrel regimen is more effective than the Yuzpe regimen in routine use. The data suggest that both regimens are less effective than has been observed in randomized trials.