The purpose of this study is to study the knowledge and experience of EC in literate women attending outpatient department of Vydehi institute of medical sciences and research centre and an attempt was made to educate them with proper knowledge of emergency contraception. DESIGN: Questionnaire based study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a questionnaire based study conducted on women attending outpatient department of VIMS an RC from December 2011 to February 2012. 175 urban educated women in reproductive age group participated in this study. Majority 83.15% women (79) knew that EC should be used within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse and 7.3 % (7) were of the opinion that it should be used within a day and 2.1% (2) thought that oral EC can be used more than 72hrs after unprotected intercourse. Among the study group only 17.14% women (30) had used EC. Major reason for its use was following an unprotected intercourse in 16 women (55.3%), failure of regular contraception in 43.33% (13) and 3.3 % (1) women had misconception that it can be used for accomplishing an abortion. In our study, no side effects in 42 %, nausea and vomiting in 82%, menstrual irregularities in 22.1% among the women who has used it. RESULTS: Out of 175 women 45.7% (80) have not heard of EC and 54.3% (95) had some knowledge about EC. Television commercials were the major source of knowledge for 64.22% of the study group. CONCLUSION: Knowledge is the main barrier for the use of emergency contraception. Knowledge is poor even in educated group and in teenagers. Knowledge of EC in teenage and adolescent group is very low and 80% of pregnancies in this age group are unwanted and majority seeks abortions in an illegal way leading to unnecessary mortality and morbidity. Therefore there is an urgent need to educate the women in reproductive age group regarding EC.

Background: Unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions are the major reproductive health challenges faced by women of developing countries. According to WHO 42 million induced abortions occur annually and out of which 20 million are performed in unsafe condition and by unskilled providers.Methods: It is a questionnaire-based study planned to be conducted in the family planning clinic of Department Of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore. Statistical analysis is done by percentage analysis, paired T test or Wilckoxer signed rank test and Mcnemer test.Results: This is a questionnaire-based study conducted on 300 urban educated women seeking termination of pregnancy. Among 300 women studied majority were in the age group of 21-30 years i.e. 174 women (58%). Among 300 women studied about 126 women who had some knowledge about EC and Medias (like TV, radio and magazine) constitutes the major source of knowledge i.e. 60 women (47.6%) then Doctors and nurse i.e. 36 women (28.5%) and other sources like friends, relative and Teachers i.e. 30 women (23.8%). Knowledge about the side effects of EC was very limited in present study, i.e. 30 women (23.8%) were unaware of side effects, 60 women (47.6%) were aware of minor side effects like nausea, vomiting and pain abdomen, and only 36 women (28.5%) were aware of hormonal side effects like menstrual irregularity.Conclusions: From present study it is shown that even among urban educated women knowledge about emergency contraception is very limited. For the proper use of emergency contraception, women should have basic knowledge about fertility and contraception. According to present study only 23.8% of urban educated women have knowledge about safe and unsafe period only (42.8%) had knowledge about timing of use of Emergency contraception.