Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Knowledge, Attitude, and Intention of High School Girls in Korea

Hee Sun Kang

doi:10.4069/kjwhn.2009.15.4.336

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Kang: Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Knowledge, Attitude, and Intention of High School Girls in Korea

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2009; 15(4): 336-343.

Published online: 31 December 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2009.15.4.336

Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Knowledge, Attitude, and Intention of High School Girls in Korea

Hee Sun Kang

Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kang, Hee Sun, Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heuksuk-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea. Tel: 82-2-820-5699, Fax: 82-2-824-7961, goodcare@cau.ac.kr

Received 25 August 2009 Accepted 30 November 2009

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge of, attitude toward, and intention to use Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) and their relationships among Korean high school girls.

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional correlational survey. Data were collected from 191 high school girls by self-report questionnaires from December 10 to 22, 2008.

Result

The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and intention were 4.74 (range 1 to 12), 2.60 (range 1 to 5), and 3.36 (range 1 to 5) respectively. Only 45% of participants had received education on ECPs and most respondents (77.5%) wanted to know more about it. Participants who had a more positive attitude toward ECPs had a greater intention to use it. Participants who had received education on ECPs had more knowledge than those who had not received education. However, there were no differences in attitude or intention between groups.

Conclusion

This study indicates that efforts should be made to provide education on ECPs to high school girls to increase awareness and to minimize the misuse of ECPs. Also, educational programs should be designed to improve knowledge as well as promote a more positive attitude toward ECPs.

Keywords: Contraception, Adolescent, Knowledge, Attitude, Intention

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristics of participants (N=191)

ECPs=emergency contraceptive pills.

Table 2

Attitude toward using emergency contraceptive pills (N=191)

^*Items were reverse-coded.

Table 3

Knowledge about emergency contraceptive pills (N=191)

^*Incorrect items.

Table 4

Correlations among variables (N=191)

ECPs=emergency contraceptive pills.

Table 5

Group differences by education on emergency contraceptive pills (N=191)

ECPs=emergency contraceptive pills.

Notes

This study was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Grants of 2009.

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