Knowledge and practices of emergency contraception among Ghanaian women.

Abstract

The use of emergency contraceptives (EC) to prevent unwanted pregnancies when effective contraception has not been used is universally acknowledged. A study looked at the knowledge and practices of emergency contraception in 476 women in the reproductive age in Ghana. Knowledge and usage of EC applied to 57% and 41% of participants, respectively. Knowledge was independent of age (p = 0.26), marital status (p = 0.14) and level of education (p = 0.21). Drugs (85.6%), herbal preparations (14.4%) and douching (43%) were used for emergency contraception. Drugs used included the combined Pill-24.0%, Postinor-28.5% and Norethisterone-43%. Only 44% correctly used drugs as EC. There is a high level of knowledge about EC as well as usage in the country. There is general misuse ofnorethisterone as EC. There is no knowledge in this study population that intrauterine device can be used as EC.