Low-income women getting incorrect contraceptive information

 

According to a report released this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen pregnancy rates are down while sexually transmitted disease (STD) numbers continue to rise. This suggests that young people are using more birth control methods, but are not understanding that their risk of contracting a sexual infection is not lowered by taking the pill.

Lately, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding emergency contraception, also known as the "morning after" pill or "plan B." In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), made it possible for women aged 17 or older to get this pill over-the-counter, a decision that had many people torn. While some individuals believe that this form of contraception is necessary to prevent unplanned pregnancy, others are under the impression that it will further encourage young people not to practice safer sex.

Recently, researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) found that in low-income areas, misconceptions about the availability of emergency contraceptives is common. Female research assistants posed as young women looking for the pills and called all of the commercial pharmacies in several areas across the U.S. They used scripts that helped them facilitate a believable conversation about how they could gain access to the medication.

While callers in all areas were told that the pharmacy carried the pill, in 19 percent of calls the women were told that they could not access the medication under any circumstances and were provided incorrect information about the age they had to be to receive it. This happened more often in pharmacies in low-income areas.

"The finding that misinformation regarding emergency contraception access is more common in neighborhoods with the highest teen pregnancy rates suggests that targeted consumer or provider education for consumers and pharmacy staff may be necessary," said researcher Tracey Wilkinson, M.D.

The scientists say they look forward to working with various companies and organizations to resolve this situation.