Emergency contraception knowledge after a community education campaign

BackgroundThis study evaluates the effectiveness of a community education campaign in the Boston community of Jamaica Plain conducted by the Massachusetts Emergency Contraception (EC) Network aimed at improving public knowledge of EC.Study DesignPre- and postintervention surveys of reproductive-age women were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the community education campaign. Knowledge of EC was compared before and after the intervention using surveys of community-based samples of women.ResultsOne hundred eighty-eight and 290 women participated in the preintervention and postintervention surveys, respectively. Following the intervention, women were significantly more likely to have heard of EC (91% vs. 82%, p=.007), know the mechanism of action of EC (49% vs. 39%, p=.04), have discussed EC with a health care provider (38% vs. 25%, p=.003) and have received an advance prescription for EC (22% vs. 12%, p=.004), as well as were more likely to use EC in the future if needed (79% vs. 63%, p=.0002).ConclusionThis grassroots-based community education campaign on EC was effective in improving EC knowledge in this Boston community.