Availability Of EC For Teens Declines At NYC Health Clinics, Report Says

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 09 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PST

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The number of teen health clinics in New York City offering same-day pick up of emergency contraception dropped by 13% from 2007 to 2008, according to a report released Monday by New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, the New York Daily News reports. The report surveyed the 38 teen health clinics in the city in June and found that 10 of them had EC available, compared with 15 clinics in a 2007 survey. The survey also showed an increase in the number of clinics that provided no-cost EC, with 61% of the clinics offering the service this year, up from 19% the previous year.

Gotbaum said, "With tens of thousands of unplanned teen pregnancies a year, there's clearly a need for the city to provide better reproductive services." An official for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said that most likely a physician was not on hand to prescribe EC to teens at some clinics the day the survey was taken. The health department said in a statement, "Preventing unintended pregnancy is a major priority for the Health Department," adding, "We play a critical role in improving access to birth control in order to help women stay healthy and have healthy babies" (Lucadamo, New York Daily News, 10/6).

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