Context: Emergency contraception (EC) use is rare in Saudi Arabia.
Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of EC among Saudi women of childbearing age.
Settings and design: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study using a survey questionnaire tool.
Materials and methods: We conducted a survey of married women of childbearing age (18-45 years) attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between January and April 2018.
Statistical analysis used: Pearson's Chi-square test is used for this study.
Results: This study included 370 of 525 (70.5%) women, with a mean age of 32.3 ± 6.3 years. Of these, 117 (31.6%) knew how to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, and 62 knew about EC. Forty-two women (67.7%) thought EC should be widely advertised, and 30 (48.4%) thought it should be made available even without prescription. Forty-seven women (75.8%) said that they were not shy to ask for EC, and 37 (59.7%) claimed that both partners should decide about the use of EC. The most common reason for not using EC was medical concerns (n = 30, 48.4%). Thirty three (53.2%) of the 62 women with knowledge about EC would use it immediately after sex. Knowledge, awareness, and use of EC were significantly correlated with higher monthly income, educated women, having three or more children, and working women.
Conclusions: Among Saudi women, knowledge, awareness, and use of EC remain low, although a positive attitude for future use of EC exists. Health information campaigns are necessary to reach women, particularly those of low socioeconomic status, less educated women, and housewives to explain EC, its availability, and its proper use.
Keywords: Attitude; Saudi Arabia; emergency contraception; knowledge; use.