Fiona Dunkin | University College Dublin (original) (raw)
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This study analyses women’s experiences in accessing the emergency hormonal contraception levonor... more This study analyses women’s experiences in accessing the emergency hormonal contraception levonorgestrel, ‘NorLevo’, in pharmacies, two years subsequent to its deregulation in Ireland. The study sought to investigate whether such deregulation has resulted in positive or negative experiences among women accessing emergency hormonal contraception in pharmacies. Upon analysis of various sociopolitical factors, the role of the Catholic Church, as well as that of Ireland’s colonial history was hypothesised to have, to a large extent, determined societal norms regarding female sexuality, and the regulation of female sexuality, from the perspective of both past and present. The study found 89% of a sample of 141 women to have had negative experiences in accessing emergency hormonal contraception. Internalised stigma and shame, as well as attitudes and practices of pharmacists, were predominantly found to have produced such negative experiences. Negative experiences were also found to have influenced a delay in access among 24.5% of participants, and to have influenced a decision not to access emergency hormonal contraception among 13.2% of participants. The study recommends the implementation of efforts to reject restrictive societal norms regarding female sexuality, as well as a targeted approach regarding the alleviation of stigma surrounding accessing emergency contraception in pharmacies.
This study analyses women’s experiences in accessing the emergency hormonal contraception levonor... more This study analyses women’s experiences in accessing the emergency hormonal contraception levonorgestrel, ‘NorLevo’, in pharmacies, two years subsequent to its deregulation in Ireland. The study sought to investigate whether such deregulation has resulted in positive or negative experiences among women accessing emergency hormonal contraception in pharmacies. Upon analysis of various sociopolitical factors, the role of the Catholic Church, as well as that of Ireland’s colonial history was hypothesised to have, to a large extent, determined societal norms regarding female sexuality, and the regulation of female sexuality, from the perspective of both past and present. The study found 89% of a sample of 141 women to have had negative experiences in accessing emergency hormonal contraception. Internalised stigma and shame, as well as attitudes and practices of pharmacists, were predominantly found to have produced such negative experiences. Negative experiences were also found to have influenced a delay in access among 24.5% of participants, and to have influenced a decision not to access emergency hormonal contraception among 13.2% of participants. The study recommends the implementation of efforts to reject restrictive societal norms regarding female sexuality, as well as a targeted approach regarding the alleviation of stigma surrounding accessing emergency contraception in pharmacies.