Knowledge attitude and practice of practitioners and midwives working at health centers of main cities of Mazandaran province about emergency contraception

Abstract Background and purpose: Emergency contraception is a method which used after unprotected intercourse and declines the rate of unintended pregnancy. In spite of efficacy and safty of this method, its rate of use is low. Major obstacle of regular use of this method is insufficient information of the health care providers, which in turn, causes low prescription of this method and consequently insatiable practice.Materials and Methods: This research is a correlative study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of practitioners and midwives working in health centers of the main cities of Mazandaran province about contraception. In this research 150 research units were selected using a multiple sampling method A questionnair was used for data, collection, completed by experienced persons who at health centers. To analyze the data descriptive statistics and c2, T-test, regression analysis and correlation were used.Results: The results showed that the level of knowledge of subjects were : 35/5% good, 38% medium and 26% poor. Negative correlation was seen between knowledge and age and job background but no correlation between knowledge and other factors. Also most of the subject’ had a positive attitude toward emergency contraception (60.7%) and 39.3% of them had a negative attitude about this method. 54.4% of subject’ had a good practice and 45.6 % had a bad practice. Practice showed a statistical correlation with gender and job however there was no was correlation between practice and other factors.Conclusion: Data indicated the necessity of regular retraining courses or workshops on family planning spechially about emergency contraception to increase knowledge of research units about this method