Women’s willingness to use emergency contraception: Experience at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Access to emergency contraception (EC) has little restriction in South Africa. EC is a contraceptive method that can be used by women up to 7 days after unprotected intercourse. It can be used in the following situations: when no contraceptive has been used; for condom accidents; after intrauterine contraceptive device expulsion; when a contraceptive method has been incorrectly used, or contraceptive pills missed; if there has been a >3-hour delay in taking the progestogen-only pill, a >2-week delay for intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate or a >1-week delay for intramuscular norethisterone enanthate; or after delayed placement or early removal or dislodgement of a contraceptive transdermal patch or vaginal ring.