Emergency contraception: Knowledge and attitudes of Turkish nursing and midwifery students

Objectives To assess the knowledge and attitudes of emergency contraception (EC) among nursing and midwifery students of a university in the Eastern-Mediterranean region of Turkey. Methods The survey was conducted among 210 nursing and midwifery students. Results One hundred and twenty-five participants (59.5%) knew at least one method of EC. One hundred and fourteen participants (54.3% ) had heard about emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs), but only 17 (8.1%) knew what they contained. Rates of hearing about ECPs were statistically higher in third and fourth classes than first and second classes, and in midwifery students than in nursing students (P < 0.001). In spite of their very unsatisfactory level of knowledge, 166 students (79.0%) thought that ECPs should be sold in pharmacies. Conclusion The nursing and midwifery students we assessed have a very insufficient knowledge of EC. Probably therefore, many are prejudiced against it. They should be much better acquainted with this modality of contraception since, after graduation, they will play an important role in the dissemination of information about EC in the population.