Knowledge and behaviors of nurses and midwives with emergency contraception

Abstract

Aim: The using of emergency contraception may play important role for preventing unplanned pregnancies and induced abortion. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and behaviors of nurses and midwives with emergency contraception.

Material and Methods: Sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study were voluntary 89 nurses and 100 midwives. The data of study were collected using face-to-face interwiev methods via questionnarie. This study was made  1st-15th February, 2005.

Results: It was determined that 46.6% of nurses and midwives heard emergency contraception. Of the nurses and midwives who completed the sample 74.1%  reported that they did not know about what used for emergency contraception and 77.2% of them did not know about beginning time to emergency contraception. It was found that rate of using the emergency contraception among nurses and midwives was 4.2%. Half of nurses and midwives who used emergency contraception reported that emergency contraception prevented their pregnancy. It was found that occupation (p=0.000) and institution (p=0.000) of participants effected hearing of emergency contraception by nurses and midwives the differences were significant.

Conclusion: Knowledge and behaviors of nurses and midwives with emergency contraception are not adequate. The education should prepare to health care providers for the presenting of knowledge and behavior about this subject. Advance researches into knowledge, attitude and behaviors of health professionals is advised.