Ensuring Unbiased Care in Women's Health
Birth Control |
Our Vision: individuals working in tandem with health care providers in order to develop the best family planning and family spacing choices for themselves
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- The development of new and improved contraception should allow each woman to make an educated choice about which birth control method is best for her
- Many women have found that their preferences regarding contraceptive use were not always honored by their providers
- For example, women in Dane County, Wisconsin reported that their preferences for contraceptive use and removal were not always respected by their physician.
- The disproportionate higher level of recommendation of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and other specific forms of birth control to women of color as African American and Hispanic women are encouraged to use LARC’s at a much higher rate than white women.
Related Resources:
UW Health - Birth Control
Birth Control Methods - Planned Parenthood
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"I told them that I wanted it out and they said that it’s really expensive and that the IUD’s the best option. I got some resistance there. . . . I was a little emotional at the time and she [the provider] didn’t even care, it seemed." |
"My provider was really hesitant to remove the ParaGard. She kept telling me, “Well, we should wait 3 months and see if your symptoms have worsened.” And I waited 3 months and she’s like “Well, you should wait some more.” And I’m like “No. So take it out or I’m going to a different doctor. Those are your options.” |
Emergency Contraception |
Our Vision: individuals are provided with accurate information related to emergency contraception from their health care providers, as well as access to this resource in a timely manner
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- The provision of emergency contraception is another aspect of healthcare where bias can influence patient care, particularly when those patients are minors.
- Many health care providers allow their personal thoughts regarding teenage sexual activity to stand in the way of providing patients with immediate contraception.
- The use of certain emergency contraception options, such as Plan B, are extremely time sensitive in their effectiveness.
- One study found that a significant portion of the health care providers support the use of adolescent contraception, while several other providers in the same emergency department expressed concern that our society has become increasingly accepting of teenage pregnancy.
- The study also noted that health care providers appeared more comfortable providing emergency contraception to patients of a higher socioeconomic status.
- Emergency contraception should not be provided based on a person’s background, the context of the sexual activity, or any other incident specific reasons, but rather provided freely and willingly to any women who requests this type of preventative care.
Related Resources:
Emergency Contraception in WI
Emergency Contraception Enforcement
Emergency Contraception - ACOG
Emergency Contraception in WI
Emergency Contraception Enforcement
Emergency Contraception - ACOG
- Biased counseling laws regarding abortion services are in effect for almost 20 states, including Wisconsin.
- Biased counseling laws allow for the legal infringement of reproductive rights by limiting access to abortion services, and intentionally appealing to women emotionally in order to influence their right to choose.
- 90% of US counties do not have an abortion provider, forcing the 39% of women of reproductive age living in these areas to travel long distances to obtain these services.
- Wisconsin currently has three abortion facilities, with 67% of reproductive age women living in counties with no abortion provider.
- Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers have been directly targeted by state and federal legislative policies in an effort to reduce funding to these providers, therefore limiting the scope of their influence and ability to treat those issues related to women’s health.
- 338 abortion restrictions were enacted by states in the US - Seven of these restrictions were implemented in Wisconsin
- Catholic hospitals follow religious guidelines that deny physicians from providing patients with certain types of reproductive health care including abortion which is banned in facilities associated with the Catholic Church, making it extremely difficult for women seeking care in Catholic-affiliated health systems to obtain abortion related services, especially in life-threatening situations.
- The expansion of Catholic hospitals has increased the disparities related to reproductive healthcare for women in rural communities
Related Resources:
ACLU - Biased Counseling Against Abortion
Speaking Out About Catholic Hospitals
Women of Color in Catholic Hospitals
- There are many prenatal care recommendations that vary based on medical provider, yet there are also several prenatal care recommendations that are widely supported by strong scientific evidence
- One concern with regards to prenatal care is that women who have not obtained any type of care may recieve judgement or lesser care once they do arrive at a medical facility for delivery
- Certain populations are limited in their access to prenatal care as a result of being geographically isolated from hospitals and other health care facilities
Related Resources:
Prenatal Care FAQ
Update on Prenatal Care - American Family Physician
- "Mothers should exclusively breastfeed infants for the child’s first six months to achieve optimal growth, development and health." -World Health Organization
- Breastfeeding is an extremely important way for a child to recieve nutritional support during their first few months of life. Breast milk allows a child to receive antibodies from their mother, conferring immunity during the first few months of life, a time in which their own immune system is very weak and vaccinations are not yet available.
- Not all mothers are able to exclusively breastfeed their child for the first six months of life, as per the timeline recommended by medical professionals.
- It is important for healthcare providers to present the positive aspects of breastfeeding to their patients, but also acknowledge that not every mother’s experience will be the same.
- The use of formula is associated with a higher incidence of childhood obesity, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, leukemia, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Although potentially harmful, these side effects only impact a small percentage of the newborn population, and should not be recited to mothers as a scare tactic or method of coercion.
Related Resources:
Breastfeeding and Infant Growth: Biology or Bias?
Breastfeeding Resources - Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Breastfeeding and Infant Growth: Biology or Bias?
Breastfeeding Resources - Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Birth outcomes have improved among all women in the United States, but a gap still exists in many communities.
- Children born to African American mothers in Wisconsin are still three times more likely to die within the first year of life than those born to white women .
- One study found that black women were significantly less likely than white women to receive healthy behavior advice from prenatal care providers, leading to higher risks of delivering a low birth weight infant.
- The quality of care can also be assessed by a woman’s access to resources outside of normal prenatal care check ups, including: childbirth classes, breastfeeding classes, and mental health resources.
- These resources are often limited in African American communities, making it more difficult for these women to obtain knowledge related to the health of their babies.
Related Resources:
Wisconsin's Infant Mortality for African American's Highest in Nation
Maternal Health Care Crisis in the US
- Crisis pregnancy centers (CPC’s) are known for misleading patients about reproductive health care in order to deter them from having abortions
- These centers typically describe themselves as abortion clinics or licensed medical facilities
- There are approximately 3,000 crisis pregnancy centers, in comparison with the 1,671 abortion providers in the United States
- In Wisconsin, there are 80 crisis pregnancy centers, compared to three abortion facilities
- Crisis pregnancy centers disproportionately affect low-income women and women of color
Related Resources:
Fake Health Centers - NARAL Pro-Choice America
Alternatives to Visiting a Crisis Pregnancy Center
Fake Health Centers - NARAL Pro-Choice America
Alternatives to Visiting a Crisis Pregnancy Center
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