Emergency contraception: knowledge, attitude and practices among women in South Delhi, India

Background: Objective of the study was to assess the awareness of emergency contraception (EC) amongst women attending the routine antenatal outpatient services.Methods: It was a hospital based cross sectional study for one year. 550 women were enrolled in the study after written informed consent. Socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice towards EC were analyzed.Results: Majority of the women were between 20 to 29 years, and had a basic level of education. 60.4% women were housewives, and 70.5% of them had an urban place of residence. 94% women knew about some method of contraception. Only 34.5% women knew EC; amongst them 54.2% knew about EC pills and 12.5% had used it at least once. 40.5% women knew that there are methods of EC but did not know how what these methods were. 67.9%of women did not know how long after unprotected intercourse EC should be taken.Conclusions: Majority of the women were between 20 to 29 years, and had a basic level of education. 60.4% women were housewives, and 70.5% of them had an urban place of residence. 94% women knew about some method of contraception. Only 34.5% women knew EC; amongst them 54.2% knew about EC pills and 12.5% had used it at least once. 40.5% women knew that there are methods of EC but did not know how what these methods were. 67.9% of women did not know how long after unprotected intercourse EC should be taken