177578 Consumer access to Plan B OTC: Findings of a national survey

Monday, October 27, 2008

Linda S. Simkin, MPhil , School and Community Services, AED, New York, NY
Valerie Futch, MA , PhD Program in Social-Personality Psychology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY
  
AED, a social change organization, conducted a national, on-line survey to gain a better understanding about women's experience with access to Plan B subsequent to its availability as a dual-label product in August, 2006. The survey, targeting women ages 18-44 years, who took Plan B after January 1, 2007, explored how women learned about Plan B, when and where they obtained it and any difficulties in this regard, their attitudes about Plan B, frequency of use of the product and other contraception, and subsequent contacts with health care providers and pharmacists. Over 1,100 respondents completed the survey which was posted on the Internet between December 2007 and March 2008. Survey findings and policy implications will be presented.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the impact of Plan B OTC on women’s access to emergency contraception (EC). 2. Identify ongoing obstacles to EC access. 3. Understand implications for policy and practice.

Keywords: Access, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am project director for the survey research project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Contraceptive Use Worldwide
See more of: Population, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health