TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers to adolescents' getting emergency contraception through pharmacy access in California
T2 - Differences by language and region
AU - Sampson, Olivia
AU - Navarro, Sandy K.
AU - Khan, Amna
AU - Hearst, Norman
AU - Raine, Tina R.
AU - Gold, Marji
AU - Miller, Suellen
AU - De Bocanegra, Heike Thiel
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Context: In California, emergency contraception is available without a prescription to females younger than 18 through pharmacy access. Timely access to the method is critical to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy among adolescents, particularly Latinas. Methods: In 2005-2006, researchers posing as English- and Spanish-speaking females - who said they either were 15 and had had unprotected intercourse last night or were 18 and had had unprotected sex four days ago - called 115 pharmacy-access pharmacies in California. Each pharmacy received one call using each scenario; a call was considered successful if the caller was told she could come in to obtain the method. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between subgroups. In-depth interviews with 22 providers and pharmacists were also conducted, and emergent themes were identified. Results: Thirty-six percent of all calls were successful. Spanish speakers were less successful than English speakers (24% vs. 48%), and callers to rural pharmacies were less successful than callers to urban ones (27% vs. 44%). Although rural pharmacies were more likely to offer Spanish-language services, Spanish-speaking callers to these pharmacies were the least successful of all callers (17%). Spanish speakers were also less successful than English speakers when calling urban pharmacies (30% vs. 57%). Interviews suggested that little cooperation existed between pharmacists and clinicians and that dispensing the method at clinics was a favorable option for adolescents. Conclusions: Adolescents face significant barriers to obtaining emergency contraception, but the expansion of Spanish-language services at pharmacies and greater collaboration between providers and pharmacists could improve access.
AB - Context: In California, emergency contraception is available without a prescription to females younger than 18 through pharmacy access. Timely access to the method is critical to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy among adolescents, particularly Latinas. Methods: In 2005-2006, researchers posing as English- and Spanish-speaking females - who said they either were 15 and had had unprotected intercourse last night or were 18 and had had unprotected sex four days ago - called 115 pharmacy-access pharmacies in California. Each pharmacy received one call using each scenario; a call was considered successful if the caller was told she could come in to obtain the method. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between subgroups. In-depth interviews with 22 providers and pharmacists were also conducted, and emergent themes were identified. Results: Thirty-six percent of all calls were successful. Spanish speakers were less successful than English speakers (24% vs. 48%), and callers to rural pharmacies were less successful than callers to urban ones (27% vs. 44%). Although rural pharmacies were more likely to offer Spanish-language services, Spanish-speaking callers to these pharmacies were the least successful of all callers (17%). Spanish speakers were also less successful than English speakers when calling urban pharmacies (30% vs. 57%). Interviews suggested that little cooperation existed between pharmacists and clinicians and that dispensing the method at clinics was a favorable option for adolescents. Conclusions: Adolescents face significant barriers to obtaining emergency contraception, but the expansion of Spanish-language services at pharmacies and greater collaboration between providers and pharmacists could improve access.
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U2 - 10.1363/4111009
DO - 10.1363/4111009
M3 - Article
C2 - 19493220
AN - SCOPUS:67650221305
SN - 1538-6341
VL - 41
SP - 110
EP - 118
JO - Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
JF - Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
IS - 2
ER -