Access to emergency hormonal contraception from community pharmacies and family planning clinics

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Abstract
Aims To evaluate differences in the time taken to access progestogen‐only emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) by young women from family planning (FP) or community pharmacy settings.Methods An observational study of 203 women requesting EHC from FP clinics and community pharmacies in South‐west Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) from December 2002 to October 2003.Results Access to EHC from community pharmacy was significantly faster than from FP clinics (16 h vs. 41 h, P < 0.001). Older teenagers tended to seek EHC more quickly and were more likely to have had a contraceptive failure rather than have used no contraception at all.Conclusion The results provide further support for pharmacist involvement in the supply of EHC.