Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of family medicine
providers and their attitudes towards emergency contraception in a
teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A 21-item questionnaire
containing the demographic profile of respondents and questions
concerning knowledge of and attitudes towards emergency contraception
was distributed among participants. In total, 45 interviews were
conducted, with a response rate of 100%, with faculty physicians (33%),
residents (27%), medical officers (40%), 36% male and 64% female
physicians; of them, the majority (64%) were married. Although the
large majority (71%) of the respondents reported considerable
familiarity with emergency contraception, objective assessment revealed
deficiencies in their knowledge. About 38% of the participants
incorrectly chose menstrual irregularity as the most common side-effect
of progestin-only emergency contraception pills, and only 33% answered
that emergency contraception was not an abortifacient while 42% were
unsure. Forty percent of the physicians prescribed emergency
contraception in the past. The large majority (71%) of the physicians
were familiar with emergency contraception, yet deficiencies in
knowledge inaccuracies were identified. Barriers to its use were
identified as 'it will promote promiscuity' (31%), religious/ethical
reasons (27%), liability (40%), teratogenicity (44%), and inexperience
(40%). Overall attitudes regarding emergency contraception were
positive; however, most (82%) physicians were unsatisfied with their
current knowledge of emergency contraception, and there was a
discrepancy between perceptions of physicians and actual knowledge.
Interventions providing education to family physicians regarding
emergency contraception is strongly recommended.