AROUND half of teenagers on post-graduation "schoolies" holidays are unaware emergency contraception is available and more than one-quarter believe it is harmful, according to a new Australian research study published in the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
The article Emergency contraception awareness in an at-risk population recommends a re-think on outdated and misleading 'morning after' terminology to communicate more effectively with that generation.
The study by researchers from Queensland's Griffith University analysed 498 valid responses by schoolies at Surfers Paradise in 2017, finding 63% were unaware emergency contraception was available without prescription, but that young women were two to three times more likely than young men to show understanding of its availability, use, safety and effectiveness.
Lead researcher, Denise Hope, School of Pharmacy & Pharmacology at Griffith University, said while rates of understanding of emergency contraception in Schoolies paralleled the general population, they form a more vulnerable cohort.
"Numerous studies tell us engagement in intoxication and unprotected sex is very high at schoolies, both in Queensland and in Victoria and Western Australia, and the impact of unplanned pregnancy is significantly greater in younger people," Hope said.
"Schoolies may not access emergency contraception when indicated due to fear of harm, uncertainty about its effectiveness window or where to access it."
With less than two months before the first schoolies are due to descend on the famed holiday strip, Hope says it's time to have clearer discussions about the language of emergency contraception.
"Half of respondents thought the window of effectiveness was either 12 or 24 hours, which tells us the 'morning after' misnomer is clearly misleading," she explained, given that women have "up to five days following unprotected intercourse to access the medicine from a pharmacy".
The researchers called for a more suitable phrasing that is more descriptive, offering the term "emergency contraception".
"Pharmacists are an accessible source of free advice, provision of support relating to sexual health and referral as necessary."
See onlinelibrary.wiley.com.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 02 Oct 19
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 02 Oct 19
