Induced abortion is major and direct cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.rnEstimated 40-60 million women seek termination of pregnancy every year and thernlargest percentages of the induced abortions take place in the developing countries.rnEmergency contraceptive methods can serve as a backup method to reduce thernoccurrence of unwanted pregnancy and its outcome following unprotected sex.rnObjectivesrnTo assess KAP of contraceptives with emphasis on emergency contraception amongrnwomen seeking post abortion care in public and private hospitals and the role of thernhealth care providers in promoting emergency contraceptive service in AddisrnAbaba.rnMethodsrnA cross-sectional study, with both quantitative and qualitative components, wasrnconducted in five government and three private hospitals in Addis Ababa duringrnJanuary to March 2006. A total of 417 questionnaires, with response rate of 98.8%rnand unit heads of the respective hospitals were interviewed using structured andrnsemi structured questionnaires prepared in Amharic. Consecutive patients seekingrnpost-abortion care at the hospitals were included in the study. Data were enteredrninto a computer and statistical analysis was done using EPI6 INFO and SSPSrnversion 10 statistical soft wares.rnResultrnOf the 417 women included in the study 59 (14.1%) reported as heard aboutrnemergency contraception. Where as, only 15(3.6%) of the women had usedrnemergency contraception. Public health facilities hospitals and health centres werernmentioned by 101(24.2%) of the women as current sources of emergencyrncontraceptives. The preferred sources of emergency contraceptives were reportedrnto be public hospitals 243 (58%), health centres 295 (70.7%), pharmacies194rn(46.5%), and private clinics 63(15.1%). During the study period, the governmentrnhospitals were providing service of emergency contraceptives using trained healthrnpersonnel 24 hours, unlike the private hospitals.rnConclusionrn2rnThis study confirms the need to improve womenâ€™s knowledge about the risk ofrnunplanned pregnancy, and the importance of regular and emergency contraceptives.rnBarriers against access and utilization of emergency contraceptives should bernremoved.