Abstract

MONTERROSA CASTRO, Alvaro. Assessment of the knowledge about emergency contraception in general practitioners in Cartagena, Colombia. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2002, vol.53, n.4, pp.313-326. ISSN 0034-7434.

Emergency contraception is an important tool to assist patients and practitioners in better management of fertility regulation and family planning, especially when there has been unprotected intercourse, to prevent the undesired pregnancy and the need for abortion. It is necessary to expand the use of emergency contraception and reach global or universal access to it, as recommended by the Consortium on Emergency Contraception. Every professional involved in reproductive and sexual health care, especially the general practitioner should have precise and updated knowledge on the use, benefits, and side effects of emergency contraception. This study demonstrates how a random survey of 175 general practitioners, picked from those working at the City of Cartagena, Colombia, indicated that knowledge on emergency contraception is very poor. There is an urgent need for improved methods to inform and educate the community of physicians and to organize continued education and other activities to reach such goals.

Keywords : emergency contraception; postcoital contraception; continued medical education; combined oral contraceptives; just progestagen contraceptives.

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