Emergency contraception. General practitioner knowledge, attitudes and practices in New South Wales.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners in New South Wales regarding the provision of emergency contraception.

DESIGN

Randomised group comparison of 100 rural and 100 urban general practitioners (GPs) by questionnaire.

RESULTS

Eighty-four rural and 76 urban GPs responded. More rural GPs were knowledgeable about emergency contraception than urban GPs (95% v. 78%), and more women knew about it than men. More urban GPs frequently prescribed emergency contraception than rural GPs (26% v. 6%) and female GPs prescribed it more readily than male GPs (22% v. 12%). There was great variation in the regimens prescribed, especially among rural GPs. Twenty-five per cent of urban GPs and 31% of rural GPs did not offer women information about emergency contraception, while 16% of both groups included such information in any discussion about contraceptive options, and 18% gave information only if requested by the woman. More than 60% of the GPs would provide information about emergency contraception as a back-up to use of barrier methods.

CONCLUSIONS

The sex, attitude and knowledge of the GPs influence the likelihood of women being made aware of or being given emergency contraception in NSW. There is a need to further educate both the public and practitioners about emergency contraception.