Evidence suggests that teenage birth rate is increasing and the rate and costs of unintended teenage pregnancy remains high. While emergency contraception (EC) is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy, use of EC among adolescents in the United States is low. Previous studies indicate that adolescents face knowledge gaps and other barriers to emergency contraception use, and recent studies also suggest that unintended pregnancy risk is higher in the emergency department (ED) population than in the general population. In recent years, the potential role of the ED in prevention activities has gained increased attention, based on the theory that patients in the ED may be experiencing “teachable moments”; that is, they may be more receptive to counseling immediately after sustaining an injury or learning of an infection. However, little research has focused specifically on the pregnancy risk of the adolescent ED population or their interest in sexual health education in the ED setting.
The following studies are guided by a continuum of aims intending to inform educational initiatives about the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and preferences for the use of EC in the adolescent population:
• Knowledge, Concerns, and Intentions regarding Emergency Contraception
• Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Emergency Contraception
• Pregnancy Prevention in the Emergency Department
• Pregnancy Risk and Desire for Sexual Health Counseling in the Emergency Department
Emergency Contraception—The Adolescents’ Perceptions
Research Lead: Cynthia J. Mollen, M.D., M.S.C.E.
