NPR Examines Effect Of Economic Downturn On Women Seeking Family Planning Services

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 21 Mar 2009 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions

NPR's "All Things Considered" on Thursday examined how the ongoing economic downturn is affecting women's use of family planning services. NPR reports that Planned Parenthood clinics and other providers of family planning services and abortions have seen "firsthand the effects of the economy on women in all age groups and income levels," with many clinics reporting an increase in the number of clients seeking their services in recent months. Although family planning clinics in the past primarily have served young women ages 18 to 24, the clinics are now seeing a greater number of older clients, many of whom do not have health insurance, NPR reports. Nancy Boothe of the Feminist Women's Health Center in Atlanta, Ga., which has experienced an increase in clients, said, "It's a time when families are looking at family size and how much they can provide." The increase in clients includes women seeking no-cost birth control, middle-class women who have forgone preventive care because of costs, older women who are without insurance for the first time and women with questions about abortion. Boothe said, "We've seen some people who said that they didn't really think that they would ever be making this decision, but recognize that this is a time when they have to think about taking care of the families they have."

According to Boothe, the number of abortions performed at her Atlanta clinic has not increased. However, Planned Parenthood of Illinois reported that its clinics in January performed the highest number of abortions in its history. Steve Trombley, CEO of PPIL, said the clinics provide critical services in smaller Illinois communities that have experienced layoffs and other effects of the economic downturn. According to Trombley, there are "whole communities where people are suddenly being closed off from access to health care, and they rely on the social safety net that we're a part of." Trombley said, "I think it's understandable that people who face an unintended pregnancy are weighing their decision about what they want to do about it." He added that it is "a very different decision today than it was a year ago to expand your family and to have a child." Cobb Pregnancy Services in Marietta, Ga. -- which does not provide abortions or abortion referrals -- also has reported a rise in the number of people seeking no-cost pregnancy tests or ultrasounds. According to Lori Parker, the center's director, many clients or their partners recently became unemployed and are in need of basic assistance. Parker said her staff attempts to provide food, formula and diapers for these clients "because we want those babies taken care of."

According to many family planning service providers, the high cost of contraceptives is one issue that can lead to unintended pregnancies. Some women pay as much as $60 for a one-month supply of birth control pills, and as a result, many cannot afford the contraceptives. In addition, women in rural areas often face transportation challenges when attempting to visit clinics. Susan Wicklund, physician and owner of the Mountain Country Women's Clinic in Livingston, Mont., said, "One of the biggest hurdles that women are having … is trying to find money for gas, trying to find transportation, in some way, shape or form to get here." According to NPR, 41 states allocate funding to assist women in paying for transportation, abortion, child care and sometimes counseling. However, Medicaid covers abortion costs in only 15 states, which leaves many low-income women with limited options. The National Network of Abortion Funds, which raises funds to help pay for abortion-related costs, has reported an increased need for its services in recent months, according to the network's executive director. For example, calls to the group's affiliates increased by at least 50% in January compared with last fall. According to NPR, some antiabortion-rights advocates are concerned that the economic downturn will lead more women with unintended pregnancies to seek abortions. NPR reports that "there's also fear that women will put off their decision until the second or third trimester, when the cost is even higher -- and the procedure is more difficult" (Lohr, "All Things Considered," NPR, 3/20).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.