Dissemination of information on emergency contraception to young people through mass media.
Anaya Gonzalez, Cecilia Irene*,1, Garcia Amezola, Yolanda1, Pick Steiner, Susan1, 1 IMIFAP- Educación, Salud y Vida, Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico
ABSTRACT- Due to the approval of the Emergency Contraception (EC) on the Mexican Health Norm (2004), emerged the need of provide correct information about the use of the EC pill. The objective of the project was to develop a model for disseminating information about Emergency Contraception (EC) among the young population through the mass media (radio, press and internet) in five states of the Mexican Republic (Queretaro, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Jalisco and Federal District). A life skills approach was used for the development of this model. Life skills are those skills which help you to face difficulties in your daily life (OMS, 1993). Some of those skills are: communication skills, making decisions and solving-problems skills, planning and organization skills, etc. A diagnosis questionnaire was developed to identify the radio stations and preferred schedules, as well as the magazines that the target population reads the most. These mass media were contacted and invited to participate in an 8-hour training. 89 radio speakers and university radio announcers were training through a workshop about EC information and life skills. Those who received the training would disseminate the information in their radio stations and universities. Besides, 20 radio programs were carried out for the EC information, specifically. In press, 14 articles about the correct use and general information of EC pills were published in some of the most popular magazines in Mexico. Pamphlets, CD-carriers, cards and a manual were designed in order to provide a tool that would facilitate the dissemination of information. A web page was designed based on the results of the questionnaires with respect to the information that the young people have about the EC pills and a review of the existing web pages about this method. The web page was promoted through the articles in the written publications, radio programs, chat, conferences and fairs in which we participated. It was also promoted in the work places of the trained people and through informational materials (pamphlets, manuals, CD carriers, cards). The accomplishments of the model depended of the strategy: through radio, 50,000 people, proxi; through press, 500,000 readers; through promotional material, it was distributed 6000 pamphlets, 3000 CD carriers, 400 cards, 120 posters and 130 mouse pads; through direct training, 89 journalists, 45 health teachers and promoters, and 1,500 youngsters.
Key words: emergency contraception, sexuality, life skills, mass media, young people