• Shelley L Galvin and E Blake Fagan.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Division of Family Medicine, MAHEC, Asheville, NC 28801, USA. shelley.galvin@mahec.net
• South. Med. J. 2009 Jan 1; 102 (1): 17-20.

IntroductionThis project was designed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and self-reported use of emergency contraception (EC) of Spanish-speaking women of western North Carolina.Materials And MethodsUsing a cross-sectional survey, a convenience sample of patients completed the survey in exam or interview rooms of an obstetric and gynecology residency program in western North Carolina. Participants included 213 Spanish-speaking women of childbearing age (18 to 44-years-old) presenting for routine care between August 2004 and October 2006.ResultsSeventy percent of the sexually active respondents (N = 196) reported inconsistent use of birth control. Only 22% reporting knowing about EC; an additional 26% knew about the morning after pill. Overall, 12% reported previous use of EC. Very few (15%) reported a moral or religious objection to EC. Only 21% reported having discussed EC with a care provider.DiscussionConsiderable opportunity exists to expand patient education about all contraceptive options, including EC with Hispanic women of western North Carolina.

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