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BACKGROUND: Emergency contraception (EC) has many important indications. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of use and knowledge about the correct use of EC among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of use and knowledge about the correct use of EC among women referred for treatment at a university hospital in Brazil. METHODS: Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: The study was conducted with patients admitted to the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) from 2009 to 2010. Patients: Sexually active women aged 18 to 50 years. Interventions: Patients answered a questionnaire on the use of and knowledge about EC. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome: prevalence of knowledge about correct EC use. Secondary outcome: prevalence of EC use. RESULTS: 134 patients participated in this study. 61.2% of women reported regular use of birth control pills, 18.7% of condoms, 9.0% of other methods, 3.0% of intrauterine device, and 8.1% used no contraceptive method. As for EC, 86.5% of interviewees reported having knowledge about the method, and 43.1% of these reported knowing how to use EC. However, only 12.0% of interviewees correctly reported how EC should be used. The prevalence of EC use in our sample was 19.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Although most interviewees reported having some knowledge about EC, only a small number were able to accurately describe its proper use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]