The scope of this study was to investigate knowledge about and access to emergency contraception among female university students in the south of the State of Santa Catarina. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between September and October 2008, in which a questionnaire was given to 360 women aged 18 to 45 years. Most belonged to the B2 economic class or higher (74.2%) and 79.4% of them had already had intercourse. Of these, 48.6% had used emergency contraception, though this was more frequent among younger women. Emergency contraception was used 2.4 times, and 87.1% had used contraceptive methods within 24 hours after intercourse. Adverse reactions were reported by 20.9%, the most common being menstrual cycle changes (44.8%) and nausea (44.8%). The reasons for using emergency contraception included the lack of condom use (44.6%) and condom rupture (39.6%). Of the women interviewed, 15% either failed to answer the question on STD prevention or answered incorrectly, while 97.8% denied having changed the method used routinely. Only 2.9% of the participants had acquired the medication via prescription, and 35.3% received guidance on application of the medication at the time of purchase.
Emergency contraception (use); Morning-after pill; Women; Students; Sexually Transmitted Disease
