Emergency contraception: A review of the programmatic and social science literature

Many biomedical aspects of emergency contraception have been investigated a nd documented for >30 years now. A large number of social science questions , however, remain to be answered. In this article, WE review the rapidly gr owing but geographically lopsided literature on this topic. Using computer database searches supplemented by reference reviews and professional corres pondence with those active iu the field, we gathered literature on the soci al science and service delivery aspects Of emergency contraception publishe d in English zip through December 1998, as well as a few unpublished papers from the same time and slightly later, representing regions where publishe d material is practically nonexistent. Methodologically acceptable papers a re summarized in our tables and text, and form the basis for suggested impr ovements in existing emergency contraceptive services, The review also offe rs ideas for designing new emergency contraception services where they do n ot yet exist. WE conclude by proposing an agenda for further social science research in this area. CONTRACEPTION 2000;61:145-186 (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Inc. All rights reserved.