Children’s Hospital Researchers Say Education Needed to Decrease Teens’ Misconception About Emergency Contraception

    PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 19 /EMWNews/ -- Targeted health

education may help urban, minority adolescent women better understand how

the emergency contraception pill works and eliminate some misconceptions

about side effects, confidentiality and accessibility, according to a study

by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.



    Researchers interviewed 30 African-American females ages 15 to 19

seeking care at Children's Hospital's emergency department. The patients

returned after their visit for a one hour interview about history of sexual

activity and pregnancy, religious beliefs, and attitudes and beliefs about

pregnancy and the emergency contraception pill (ECP). After answering

several knowledge-based questions about ECP, the teens watched a 3-minute

video about ECP before answering the attitude and belief questions.



    The study, which appears in the August 2008 issue of Pediatrics, found

that half of the participants who were not sexually active had not heard of

ECP. Nearly all of the sexually active participants had heard of ECP but

were unable to answer follow-up questions, such as the correct timing of

use. Respondents said family and friends are important influences on

whether they would use ECP and expressed concerns about confidentiality and

availability of the drug.



    "By outlining specific barriers to use in this population, we provide a

framework for future early interventions, such as parent education and

addressing confidentiality concerns," said pediatrician Cynthia J. Mollen,

M.D., M.S.C.E., lead author of the study. "Multiple misconceptions such as

side effects that are not known to occur and concerns about

confidentiality, exist in this population, and may influence future use."

    About 750,000 young U.S. women between the ages of 15 and 19 become

pregnant each year, and unintended teen pregnancy is a major public health

issue. Many U.S. women are unaware of how emergency contraception works and

where to find it. ECP is a safe and effective form of contraception, which

can be used to prevent pregnancy when other forms of contraception (like

birth control pills or condoms) have not been used or have failed, Mollen

said. ECP can be taken up to five days after unprotected intercourse, and

is most effective the sooner it is taken.



    Those interview participants expressed concern about side effects such

as feeling sick or vomiting, and effectiveness of the pill. Some

participants described ECP as easier, more effective and faster to use than

oral contraceptives. When asked to describe the type of person who would

use ECP, participants painted a generally negative picture.



    The researchers said that conversations about ECP with teens need to

address specific concerns for that age group, such as side effects of the

medication and confidentiality issues. Since users of ECP were portrayed

negatively by participants, healthcare providers may also offer portraits

of actual users and the similarity to oral contraceptives, the researchers

concluded.



    The study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of

Health. Additional funding was through the Craig-Dalsimer Fund and the

Foerderer-Murray Award, both at Children's Hospital.



    Other authors are Katie L. Hayes, B.S.; Marah Gotcsik, M.D.; and Donald

F. Schwarz, M.D., M.P.H. from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and

Frances K. Barg, Ph.D. and Nakeisha M. Blades, B.A., from The University of

Pennsylvania.



    About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital

of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric

hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional

patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare

professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's

Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children

worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the

country, ranking third in National Institutes of Health funding. In

addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have

brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children

and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.



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