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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kathleen Wilder, MD, MHS, Resident, Department of OB/GYN, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 00000, 503-494-9000, wilderk@ohsu.edu, Nancy Glass, PhD, MPH, RN, Center for Health Disparities, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 00000, and Jeanne-Marie Guise, MD, MPH, Departments of OB/GYN and Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, UHN-50, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239.

Study Objective: To describe hormonal emergency contraceptive (EC) awareness, use, knowledge, and willingness to use in a sample of women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: Women were recruited from community-based domestic violence agencies. Questions about EC and reproductive history were administered via a structured in-person interview with skilled research assistants. Results: Among the sample of 98 survivors aged 18-60 years, fifty-eight percent (n=57) self-identified as Latina and 25% were Spanish speaking only. The majority of survivors (54%) reported forced sex by a partner in the past year, 72 % reported an unplanned pregnancy, and 28% reported a pregnancy termination. The majority (85%) had ever heard of the morning after pill/emergency contraception, but few (12%) had ever used it. Thirty seven percent reported that they knew a prescription was needed to obtain EC, but only 17% knew it could be taken up to 3-5 days after intercourse. Almost half (46%) of women thought it would cause an abortion. Forty four percent reported their partner would somewhat or strongly disapprove. When asked about barriers to EC use, 32% reported moral or religious objections, 45% reported concerns about side effects, 56% reported not having money, 40% reported not knowing where to obtain it, and 31% reported not having transportation. Conclusions: This sample of female survivors of IPV has high rates of awareness of EC and willingness to use it compared to the general population, yet they have limited knowledge of EC. Future analyses will determine factors associated with EC use, knowledge, and willingness to use it. Given the difficulty negotiating contraceptive use, special attention should be made to reach women who are in violent intimate relationships in order to provide improved access and knowledge of EC.

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