Emergency contraception in Ghana: an application of the theory of planned behavior

Andreea A. Creanga, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kwabena Danso, University of Ghana
Amy Tsui, Johns Hopkins University

There is growing worldwide acceptance and promotion of emergency contraception (EC) as a measure to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, and its potential impact in this regard can be most evident in developing countries with unmet contraceptive need. This analysis employs structural equation models to test whether the theory of planned behavior can be applied to explain past and intended use of EC among clients in Ghana, and examines model-based correlates of EC use and intention to use among a random sample of 992 clients attending the family planning clinic at Komfo-Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Scales are developed for the 4 main elements of the theory of planned behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention to use EC -- Chronbach’s α 0.77, 0.71, 0.84, 0.80, respectively). No previous studies have applied a psychosocial theory to elicit an understanding of clients’ EC use in a developing country.