Emergency contraception use in young Norwegian women The role of social background, sexual history, and risk behaviors

Abstract Background Emergency contraception use has received little attention compared to other contraceptives (e.g., condoms), despite increased use in most western countries. The present study aims to examine individual risk behavior and social characteristics of adolescent emergency contraception use of women in late adolescence, a key developmental stage for risky sexual behaviors. Methods A total of 214 young women (ages 18–20) from the community-based “Tracking Opportunities and Problems in Childhood and Adolescence” study self-reported their contraceptive use, sexual history (debut age, number of partners, sexually transmitted infections, abortions), risk behaviors (externalizing behavior, alcohol use), and social factors (living arrangements, educational status). Their mothers reported the young women’s socioeconomic background (family economy, education). Differences were tested between groups that had never used emergency contraception, used it once, and used it many times. Results Over half of the sample had used emergency contraception. Emergency contraception users were a heterogeneous group. Multi-time users of emergency contraception reported to have had more unprotected drunk sex than those having used emergency contraception once or never, and they were younger when they first had sexual intercourse and had more sexual partners (both in their lifetime and in the last year) than those who had never used emergency contraception. Emergency contraception use did not differ in relation to social background, regular contraception use, or consequences of unprotected sex. Conclusions This is one of the few studies examining characteristics of groups based on different types of emergency contraception use history in a community sample of women in their late adolescence. Findings revealed significant differences in the profiles of multi-time, one-time, and non-users of emergency contraception in some factors, but no difference between groups based on regular contraception use. The findings can provide researchers, practitioners, and policy makers with a more nuanced perspective of emergency contraception users, thus strengthening counseling and planning prevention efforts.