Introducing Emergency Contraception in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, emergency contraception (EC) is "relatively unknown" by both providers and potential users. Conducted by the Frontiers in Reproductive Health program of the Population Council, this study sets out to determine if the introduction of EC in Bangladesh is an option for preventing pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.

According to this report, approximately 1.2 million pregnancies (31 percent) are unplanned each year and nearly 50 percent of couples do not use any contraceptive method. EC however provides women a chance to avoid pregnancy if unprotected intercourse occurs.

Qualitative data reveal that people do not have any knowledge of EC. According to the report "many women practice various traditional methods to protect themselves..." including "...passing urine after intercourse, quickly standing up after sex and walking or jumping, taking high doses of red (iron) pills and an inappropriate dose of white (contraceptive) pills."

The report indicates that introducing EC could be an important reproductive health option because it helps stop women from carrying out abortions which contribute to high maternal morbidity/mortality. EC could also contribute to reducing psychological issues and health risks associated with unwanted pregnancies and abortions.

Research shows that grassroot workers assisting with EC can be trained to provide advice regarding this method. "In the baseline survey, only 4 out of 293 providers knew how OCPs (oral contraceptive pills) could be correctly use as ECPs (Emergency Contraceptive Pills). After the training, almost 100 percent had acquired this knowledge."

Findings from the report indicate that pregnancy was prevented in 96 per cent of the instances in which women used EC pills and that women stated a willingness to pay for them. In the final analysis of th report it states that "both the diagnostic study with community members and the baseline survey of providers indicate that emergency contraception will have high acceptability among women."

Click here for the full report in PDF format.