CPD Articles

Emergency contraception in primary health care

Indiran Govender, Olukayode A. Adeleke, Lusayn L. Govender, Olufemi B. Omole
South African Family Practice | Vol 67, No 1 : Part 3| a6146 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v67i1.6146 | © 2025 Indiran Govender, Olukayode A. Adeleke, Lusayn L. Govender, Olufemi B. Omole | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 25 February 2025 | Published: 17 June 2025

About the author(s)

Indiran Govender, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
Olukayode A. Adeleke, Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
Lusayn L. Govender, Department of Occupational Therapy, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, Australia
Olufemi B. Omole, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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

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

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