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. 2025 Jun 17;67(1):e1-e6.
doi: 10.4102/safp.v67i1.6146.

Emergency contraception in primary health care

Indiran Govender  1 , Olukayode A Adeleke, Lusayn L Govender, Olufemi B Omole
Affiliations

Emergency contraception in primary health care

Indiran Govender et al. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). .

Abstract

Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies in South Africa cost women, government and families enormous physical, emotional and socioeconomic stress. These are further aggravated by the high rate of sexual assault cases in South Africa. In a setting such as this, easy access to emergency contraception (EC) becomes a key intervention and health system imperative. Primary health care clinicians are at the forefront of health care provision in South Africa and need to be well equipped with the necessary knowledge on EC to make informed management decisions. This article seeks to provide information and improve awareness and confidence of primary care clinicians when providing EC.

Keywords: Copper IUD; economic stress; emergency contraception; intra uterine contraceptive device; rape; sexual assault.; unplanned pregnancies; unprotected sexual intercourse; unwanted pregnancies.

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Conflict of interest statement

I.G. declares that he is an editorial board member of South African Family Practice journal. The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Levonorgestrel as sold in South Africa.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Ulipristal Acetate (UPA) as sold.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Copper intrauterine device.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Levonorgestrel intrauterine device.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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