Abstract:
Contraception is the use of various devices, drugs, agents, sexual practices or surgical
procedures to prevent conception or pregnancy. In 2015, globally the usage of some type of
contraception was 64.0 % among reproductive age women. Globally, the unmet need for
contraception is estimated at 12.0 %. This indicates that at least one in 10 women of reproductive
age has unmet need of contraception.
Emergency contraception (EC) refers to the methods of contraception that include the
use of any drug or device to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse. The EC is
considered as a second chance to prevent undesired pregnancy when contraception fails or in the
case of unprotected sexual intercourse. According to the American Society for Emergency
Contraception, the use of EC methods is underutilized in most of the countries. There are
multiple barriers for the use of EC including their availability and affordability, and the
attitude/prescription practices of providers.
This study aim is to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice of the emergency
contraception among obstetrician - gynecologists practicing in primary health care facilities in
Yerevan. To answer the research questions, the study team will utilize analytical cross-sectional
study design. The target population of this study includes obstetrician - gynecologists practicing
in Yerevan, Armenia. Data will be collected through self-administered questionnaires. The main
domains of the questionnaire include knowledge on the EC, attitude towards the EC, practice of
prescribing the EC, barriers to prescribing of the EC, and demographic information of the
respondents. The census of all 240 obstetrician – gynecologists practicing in the primary health
care facilities in Yerevan will be conducted.Data entry and cleaning will be done using SPSS and STATA software. Descriptive
statistics will be run on all independent and dependent variables. Univariate linear regression will
be run to detect unadjusted associations. Multivariate linear regression will be run to explore
adjusted associations between independent variables and practice of the EC, while controlling for
the covariates.
The study approved by the Institutional Review Board of the American University of
Armenia.
The proposed study will last four months and the research team will consist of the study
coordinator and study assistant. The total budget of the proposed study is estimated to be
1.834.400 AMD.