EC and Abortions

EC has the possibilities of reducing abortion rates, since it eliminates unwanted pregnancies before an abortion is necessary. In 1996, 1.37 million women underwent abortions in the U.S. and 45% of those women had already had at least one abortion (Ross, 2002). Availability, access, education and effective dissemination of EC information could help reduce the number of women who result to abortions and also significantly reduce the healthcare costs of treatment for unsafe abortions. The fact that EC access depends on healthcare providers, since it is only available through prescription, puts great responsibility on healthcare providers because they are not only responsible for prescribing EC but they can be an instrumental factor in reducing abortions and the negative consequences which can result from abortions.

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Plan B is a specifically designated EC pill. It is one of the most widely used brands of EC.

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EC and Unintended Pregnancies

An unintended pregnancy is one that occurs without being planned, desired, or expected. Unintended pregnancies in the United States are higher then in any other industrialized country and are a major public health concern, not only for the women faced with them but for children and society (Battel, 2005). Unintended pregnancies can be consequences of; consensual unprotected intercourse, cases were the contraception of choice was not effective or sexual aggression. These pregnancies are not expected and thus bring women an extra burden or consequence. About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended and such pregnancies can increase risk of low birth weight and infant mortality, cause higher medical expenses, affect education rates, result in welfare dependency, and lead to subsequent child abuse and neglect (Ross, 2002). EC is an effective technology which can significantly reduce the rates of unintended pregnancies and reduce the major consequences produced by unintended pregnancies. The consequences and risks of unintended pregnancies have a major impact on society. This negative impact can be reduced if healthcare providers can facilitate access to EC.

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EC and Human Rights

For many centuries women have been denied their basic human rights. As the fight for equality continues, it is inevitable to embark within this struggle the issues of health. Of main concern are the particular issues of women’s reproductive and sexual rights. In 1968 at the Human Rights World Conference the General Assembly of the United Nations established “that couples have the fundamental human right to decide the number and spacing of their children and the right to obtain an education and the methods necessary to do so.”, this declaration is part of the International Pact of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights of the United Nations to which many countries including Puerto Rico form a part of. This suggests that every woman has the right to choose whether or not she decides to have children and when she should have those children. This also ensures that she will have the education and services necessary to exercise this right. Access to modern contraception is part of this right and also allows women to separate their sexuality from their reproductive functions without risks (Latin American & Caribbean Women’s Health Network, 2003). Information and access to EC guarantees women their rights to make informed decisions about their reproduction and sexuality. Thus, it is an essential part of human rights to have access to health, which includes EC. If this access to EC depends on healthcare providers, then it is of enormous importance to study and understand what healthcare providers are doing to ensure the right of women to EC access.

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Research Hypothesis

1. Healthcare providers who completed their studies after the year 1974 will have more knowledge and more positive attitudes regarding EC.
2. Healthcare providers with more knowledge will prescribe EC with much more frequency than those healthcare providers who have less knowledge about EC.
3. Healthcare providers who have more knowledge and positive attitudes about EC will make EC more accessible to their patients.
4. The barriers to EC access are the lack of proper training and knowledge of healthcare providers about EC.

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Research Question

This investigation proposes to research and describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare providers towards emergency contraception. This investigation seeks to identify how healthcare providers can serve as facilitators and/or barriers to the access of emergency contraception.

Research Question
How do the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers towards emergency contraception affect the accessibility of emergency contraception for women who seek family planning services and/or victims of sexual assault who seek medical attention in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico?

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A little bit about EC...

About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended and such pregnancies can increase risk of low birth weight and infant mortality, cause higher medical expenses, affect education rates, result in welfare dependency, and lead to subsequent child abuse and neglect (Ross, 2002). Emergency contraception technology is efficient and safe at impeding undesired pregnancies before occurring. Although emergency contraception is approved by the FDA and is required as treatment for sexual assault survivors by the Department of Health in Puerto Rico, its accessibility is not widespread. The objectives of this investigation are to research and describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers towards emergency contraception and identify how healthcare providers can serve as facilitators and/or barriers to the access of emergency contraception.

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