Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116683

Sandra G. Garcia, ScM, ScD, Reproductive Health Program, Population CouncilThe Population Council, Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Panzacola 62-102, Col. Villa Coyoacan, Mexico DF, 04000, Mexico, 001-5255- 59998658, sgarciag@popcouncil.org.mx, Diana Lara, MD, MS, Reproductive Health Program, Population Council, Panzacola 62-102, Col. Villa Coyoacán, Mexico, Mexico, Sarah Landis, PhD candidate, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Rosenau Hall CB# 7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, Eileen A. Yam, MPH, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Population Council, Panzacola 62 Int 102, Col Villa Coyoacan, Mexico City 04000, Mexico, and Suyapa Pavon, ScM, Dept. of Evaluation, ASHONPLAFA, Juan Manuel Gálvez 2002, Colonia Alameda, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Background: Emergency contraception pills (ECP) have the potential to fill a significant gap in women's reproductive health needs. In Honduras, which has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in Latin America and where nearly one-fourth of all births are unwanted pregnancies, the need for ECP is exceptional.

Objectives: To learn more about family urban planning clients' knowledge, attitude, and use of ECPs before and after countrywide ECPs introduction and outreach activities conducted from 2001 to 2003.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional surveys among 2,693 family planning clinic clients to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ECP at baseline and at two years post-introduction.

Findings: Awareness of ECP increased over time but remained below 20% at follow-up. Family planning clients generally demonstrated a positive attitude and low rates of concern about ECP. Both awareness of and willingness to personally use ECP was highly associated with client's age, educational status, and city of residence.

Conclusions: Countrywide ECP introduction and outreach activities increased ECP knowledge among urban family planning clients. These results will be useful in formulating ECP educational messages and determining appropriate target audiences for future awareness campaigns in Honduras.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Evaluate the changes in ECP knowledge, attitudes, and use before and after an ECP introduction campaign.
• Identify characteristics linked with awareness and willingness to use and recommend ECP;
• Assess the feasibility of ECP introduction campaigns in countries with high fertility rates and restrictive abortion laws.

Keywords: Contraception, Latin American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.