Choice Ireland

Students support OTC emergency contraception
Written by Nick O'Donoghue Monday, 25 May 2009
A new study has revealed the majority of medical and non-medical students in an Irish university believe emergency contraception should be available without prescription from pharmacies.
The majority of support came from non-medical students (77 per cent), however, more than half (57 per cent ) of the medical students involved in the study were also in favour of selling the morning-after pill over the counter (OTC).

Researchers found there was widespread approval amongst students for the use of emergency contraception in Ireland, however, medical students were slightly more reticent about it than their non-medical peers with 82 per cent in favour compared to 89 per cent, respectively.

The study found non-medical students were more likely to believe the availability of the morning-after pill would lead to young people having unprotected sex than medical students.

However, both groups agreed that use of emergency contraception would make it easier to contract STDs and HIV, according to the study published in the latest IMJ.

Medical students also showed a greater knowledge about when emergency contraception is most effective, with 90 per cent correctly identifying that it should be used within 72 hours of having unprotected sexual intercourse.

While overall awareness of emergency contraception amongst students from both groups was considered good, almost a quarter of medical students and half of non-medical students were unable to identify the mechanism of action in emergency contraception that is different from the abortion pill.

Researchers said it was important that medical students have a better understanding regarding emergency contraception than their non-medical peers as they will play a role in educating the general public when they graduate.

The study students were from University College Cork.