View source for Improve Access to Birth Control (Esp. LARCs)


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If people don't desire to have a child, then access to birth control should be a high priority so that the woman doesn't&nbsp;unintentionally become pregnant.&nbsp; &nbsp;In too many cases, women who don't desire to get pregnant lack easy access to birth control options.&nbsp; When a baby is born into circumstances where it was not a planned or desired situation, there are likely to be higher rates of adverse experiences [Get reserach for this].

= Background =

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), “The consequences of unintended pregnancy are serious, imposing appreciable burdens on children, women, men, and families.”<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0125</ref>

IOM research showed that children born as a result of an unintended pregnancy are at greater risk for numerous developmental and health consequences.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0125</ref>

In the United States, nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended,<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0075 </ref> the highest rate in the industrialized world.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0195</ref>

In the U.S. , the South and Southwest have the highest rates of unintended pregnancy along with states that have large urban populations.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0150  </ref>

Unintended pregnancy rates are about four times higher among lower-income women than higher-income women.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0075</ref>

The highest risk for unintended pregnancy are among women who are aged 18–24, low-income, lacking a high school degree, cohabiting, and African-American.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213415001945#bib0080</ref>

= Tools and Resources =

The CDC has identified reducing unintended pregnancies as one of the major topics for whcih there are strong evidenced-based strategies.&nbsp;

https://www.cdc.gov/sixeighteen/pregnancy/index.htm

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has a series of evidence-based recommendations

https://www.cdc.gov/sixeighteen/pregnancy/index.htm

= Promising Practices and Case Studies =

The State of Colorado has experienced significant reductions in unintended pregnancies by increasing access to LARCs

Between 2009 and 2017 the results were very significant

*The teen birth rate dropped 59% 
*The teen abortion rate dropped 60% 
*Young women (age 20-24) had a 35% reduction in birth rates 
*Young women (age 20-24) had a 41% reduction in abortion rates 

Learn more at&nbsp;[http://www.larc4co.com/ http://www.larc4co.com/]

This is estimated to have reduced public assistance costs by nearly $70 million<ref>https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/cfpi-report</ref>

= Scorecard Building =

Possible Objective Details

[[PM_Improve_Access_to_Birth_Control|Possible Measures]]

= Actions to Take =

Actions for Coalitions

Actions for Individuals

= Sources =