Emergency Contraception Education and Outreach Project, New York City

Four organizations were selected through a competitive process to implement a 3-year Emergency Contraception Education and Outreach Project overseen by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH), with the goals of increasing access to and awareness of EC.

The four orgnaizations are using multiple strategies to achieve these goals, including provider education, advance provision of EC, integrating EC information into pregnancy prevention messages, and social marketing campaigns. While each organization is conducting its own internal evaluation, NYCDOHMH is coordinating an evaluation of the two activities performed across sites: provision of EC and education of health professionals.

EC distribution is tracked through monthly logs submitted by each organization. Change in knowledge and attitude of health professionals is assessed through pre- and post- tests distributed at each training session.

The first year of the project resulted in increased EC provision, increased knowledge, and increased favorable attitudes. A total of 8188 pill packs and prescriptions were distributed; 68% of the total provision was in advance of need, 75% was pills (vs. prescriptions), and 38% was to recipients age 19 or younger. EC provision increased over baseline due in part to revised protocols and policies regarding provider dispensing practices and due to contract funds used to purchase the previously unaffordable drug.

Results of the pre/post tests found significant knowledge gain and improved attitudes among health professionals. Notably, increased knowledge about EC's safety and mechanism of action suggest that increased knowledge of and comfort with the drug may positively influence provider dispensing practices.