Another barrier for women’s access to EC could be the attitudes and opinions of healthcare providers. Forty-seven percent of providers strongly agree that the benefits of EC outweigh the risks, while 44% agree with the statement (Wallace, 2004). These beliefs can influence how healthcare providers prescribe and inform patients about EC. A small number of physicians would not prescribe EC because of religious/ethical beliefs (Wallace). These physicians’ beliefs eliminate the possibilities of women receiving EC from these providers. The predominant reasons why providers don’t prescribe EC are lack of request, believing that women misreport hours since last sexual encounter, experience with the method, and moral objection to EC (Gold, Schein, & Coupey, 1997). The way healthcare providers understand and perceive EC can have an immense impact on how they inform patients about EC and how they choose to prescribe EC. This can limit women’s rights to make informed decisions about their health. It is essential to study what healthcare providers attitudes are, since such attitudes affect the accessibility of EC.
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A little public health humor!!!!
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I thought this was an interesting picture about EC. If you have intercourse, and are not sure if your pregnant, then you must take a 2 different doses of EC.
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What healthcare providers know about EC plays an important role on how they prescribe and provide information about EC. Findings suggest that clinicians have incomplete knowledge of EC (Wallace, Wu, Weinstein, Gorenflo, & Fetters, 2004). In a study by Langer & et al (1999) only 30% of the providers knew that EC referred to a postcoital contraceptive method, 52% thought EC was a method used at the time of intercourse, and 17% though it was an abortifacient. Many healthcare providers are misinformed about EC, in a study by Harrison (2005) the researcher found that some respondents erroneously reported that EC is not available in the United States or their own state and confused EC with mifeprisonte, the abortion pill. According to Galvao & et al (1999) 66% percent of the respondents indicated that EC prevents pregnancy, 15% thought it induces abortion, 15% thought it did both, and 3% did not know how it worked. Only 12% of the providers stated that EC was legal and part of a family planning protocol. Of the physicians who provided EC only 15% were able to correctly mention the name, dose, and timing of the 1st dose (Galvao & et al). It is evident that healthcare providers have many interrogations about what EC is. Lack of knowledge about EC on behalf of the healthcare providers not only reduces prescription rates but also increases incorrect use of EC by women. Studying the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers in regards to EC could help identify the abundance of misinformation that healthcare providers may have about EC.
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Some of the EC brands available and their dosage.
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If healthcare providers are not informing women of EC and major publicity campaigns have not taken place to promote EC, then misinformation or lack of awareness is inevitable. In the above mentioned study Bell & Millward (1999) found that most of the participants mentioned their primary source of EC information as friends or peers while health professionals were not considered a resource. Many of the younger women did not list school as a source of information and the older women preferred to consult a friend rather than a health professional (Bell & Millward). If women do not feel comfortable with health professionals then they will confide in friends which can be unreliable sources, where EC is considered. The sources that women are resulting to for information can lead to greater misinformation and create myths about EC that are not necessarily true. Healthcare providers must be properly trained to inform women of EC, as healthcare professionals it is their responsibility to provide women with information and services, which will allow women to have control over their reproduction. The necessity to study what healthcare professionals know about EC and how likely they are to share this information with patients could provide an insight as to whether healthcare providers are facilitators or barriers to EC access.
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Access the following link to view some of the positions of religious groups on EC.
Opinions about EC
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EC is a product for women of reproductive age. Their experiences with obtaining and using EC can be a valuable source of information, in order to more precisely determine how accessible EC is. A study in Mexico City to determine knowledge and opinions about EC among healthcare providers likely to dispense EC and health service clients likely to use EC; 1,127 clients from health centers were surveyed and the results indicated that only 18% of the sample had heard of EC and of that 18% only 10% answered all of the knowledge questions correctly (Langer & et al, 1999). Less than 1% of the sample had ever used EC. Women have little or no knowledge of EC. If women don’t know that EC exists then they are less like to request it. According to Langer & et al, the clients’ awareness and knowledge of EC was extremely scarce. If awareness and knowledge of EC is scarce among the EC client population, then it must be interpreted that it is up to the healthcare providers to raise awareness and inform potential EC clients of the available technology. In another study, Bell & Millward (1999) tried to describe women’s experiences of obtaining EC through a phenomenological study. The above mentioned researchers interviewed eight women who requested EC at a general practice in England. Bell & Millward found that the key problem for women requesting EC was the doctor’s receptionist. As the first person whom the client encounters, while requesting EC, this person answers questions of availability and procedures before obtaining EC. Thus, their knowledge and attitude greatly affect the type of service and care that EC clients receive. Some of the participants reported feelings of judgment, guilt, and fear of being “told off” by healthcare providers while seeking EC (Bell & Millward). If a client is made to feel guilty by the healthcare providers’ attitude or tone, then this can be considered a substantial barrier to EC. The researchers concluded that a major problem for women seeking EC is providers’ attitudes. They also considered education as essential for all staff involved in the process, including receptionists. It is evident that the information and attitudes of healthcare providers can impact how accessible EC is for women seeking family planning services. It is important to understand how the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare providers influences the EC services that women receive.
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