Pharmacy-Based Barriers to Adolescent Access to Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception in Kentucky
Publication Date
Spring 2017
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair
Darlene Shearer (Director), Michelle Reece, Dawn Wright, and Jae Kim
Degree Program
Department of Public Health
Degree Type
Master of Public Health
Abstract
Since June of 2013, Plan B and its generics have been available over-the-counter without age restriction nationwide. Even so, pharmacy-based economic, physical, and staff-associated barriers still exist, potentially leading adolescent customers to fail to obtain emergency contraception (EC) in a sufficiently timely manner to prevent pregnancy. This study explores these pharmacy-based barriers to EC in the state of Kentucky focusing on comparisons of urban and non-urban pharmacies and chain and private pharmacies. Using a secret-shopper survey technique, the researcher called 220 Kentucky pharmacies acting as a 15-year-old girl seeking information about EC. Among other findings, a logistic regression analysis revealed that private pharmacies were 97% less likely to carry EC compared to chain pharmacies (OR= .027; p
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Public Health | Women's Health
Recommended Citation
Ascensio, Zona Josephine, "Pharmacy-Based Barriers to Adolescent Access to Over-the-Counter Emergency Contraception in Kentucky" (2017). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 1939.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1939