Emergency Contraception : The Story of a Global Reproductive Health Technology

Despite its safety and efficacy, emergency contraception (EC) continues to spark political controversy worldwide. In this edited volume, authors explore how emergency contraception has been received, interpreted, and politicized, through the in-depth examination of the journey of EC in 16 individual countries. Worldwide, more than one fourth of all pregnancies are unintended. Emergency contraception, which could lower this number, continues to spark political controversy worldwide. In this edited volume, authors explore how emergency contraception has been received, interpreted, and politicized. Through the in-depth examination of the journey of EC in 16 countries, chapters in this book reveal the ways that a global reproductive health technology is inflected with local cultural meaning and simultaneously influenced by challenges that condition the introduction of a new technology Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Birth of A Global Reproductive Health Technology: An Introduction to the Journey of Emergency Contraception....Pages 3-17 Emergency Contraception: Hopes and Realities....Pages 19-35 Front Matter....Pages 37-37 United States: Activism, Sexual Archetypes, and the Politicization of Science....Pages 39-55 Canada: Competing Frames of Access and Authority....Pages 57-78 Jamaica: A Success Story in Moving to Nonprescription Status....Pages 79-90 Mexico: Expanding Access Through Partnerships and Persistence....Pages 91-106 Chile: One Step Forward, One Step Back....Pages 107-122 Britain: Contradictory Messages About Sexual Responsibility....Pages 123-138 France: A Pioneer in the Switch to Nonprescription Status....Pages 139-151 Tunisia: A Global Leader in Reproductive Health and Rights....Pages 153-167 Lebanon: Can Introduction be too Quiet?....Pages 169-177 Morocco: A Personal Account of the Introduction Saga....Pages 179-190 Nigeria: Creating Demand and Increasing Availability....Pages 191-206 Australia: Organized Physician Opposition to Nonprescription Status....Pages 207-219 Bangladesh: A Model for National Family Planning Program Integration....Pages 221-237 The Thailand-Burma Border: Addressing Needs in Long-Term Conflict Settings....Pages 239-253 Front Matter....Pages 255-255 The Future of Emergency Contraception: Where are we Going from Here?....Pages 257-264 Back Matter....Pages 265-323 Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 3 Copyright 4 Contents 6 List of Figures 8 List of Tables 9 Acknowledgments 10 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 12 Part I 16 1 The Birth of a Global Reproductive Health Technology: An Introduction to the Journey of Emergency Contraception 17 2 Emergency Contraception: Hopes and Realities 32 Part II 49 3 United States: Activism, Sexual Archetypes, and the Politicization of Science 50 4 Canada: Competing Frames of Access and Authority 67 5 Jamaica: A Success Story in Moving to Nonprescription Status 89 6 Mexico: Expanding Access through Partnerships and Persistence 101 7 Chile: One Step Forward, One Step Back 117 8 Britain: Contradictory Messages about Sexual Responsibility 133 9 France: A Pioneer in the Switch to Nonprescription Status 149 10 Tunisia: A Global Leader in Reproductive Health and Rights 162 11 Lebanon: Can Introduction Be Too Quiet? 177 12 Morocco: A Personal Account of the Introduction Saga 186 13 Nigeria: Creating Demand and Increasing Availability 198 14 Australia: Organized Physician Opposition to Nonprescription Status 214 15 Bangladesh: A Model for National Family Planning Program Integration 227 16 The Thailand-Burma Border: Addressing Needs in Long-term Conflict Settings 244 Part III 259 17 The Future of Emergency Contraception: Where Are We Going from Here? 260 Resources 268 Bibliography 269 Notes on Contributors 301 Index 304 "Globally, more than one fourth of all pregnancies are unintended. Emergency contraception can be used after sex to reduce the risk of pregnancy. But despite their safety and efficacy, emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) have sparked controversy worldwide. In examining the journey of ECPs in fourteen countries, this volume explores the ways that a global reproductive health technology both acquires local cultural meaning and encounters similar challenges everywhere it is introduced worldwide. This book's portraits of activism and opposition highlight the range of social, cultural, religious, and political contexts that shape the interpretation of new medical technologies"--Provided by publisher