Emergency Contraception Awareness and Use Among Finnish Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): Kobra Falah-Hassani, Elise Kosunen, Rahman Shiri, Arja Rimpelä
Primary Institution: Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
Hypothesis
Does the non-prescription status of emergency contraception affect its awareness and use among Finnish adolescents?
Conclusion
Adolescent girls were well aware of emergency contraception even before it became available without a prescription, and the change did not increase its use.
Supporting Evidence
- Awareness of emergency contraception was high among girls aged 12–18 years.
- EC use did not significantly increase after it became available over-the-counter.
- Alcohol consumption was associated with higher awareness and use of emergency contraception.
Takeaway
Most teenage girls in Finland know about emergency contraception, but just knowing about it doesn't mean they use it more often.
Methodology
A self-administered questionnaire was sent to a population-based sample of girls aged 12–18 years in 1999, 2001, and 2003, with a response rate of 83% in 1999, 79% in 2001, and 77% in 2003.
Potential Biases
The study's reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias in the reported awareness and use of emergency contraception.
Limitations
The study may have underestimated the proportion of EC use due to non-respondents potentially using EC more than responders.
Participant Demographics
Finnish girls aged 12–18 years.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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