Trends in US Women's Use of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Services
Trends in US Women's Use of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Services
I examined the 1995 and 2002 National Survey of Family Growth for patterns and trends in the use of sexual and reproductive health care services by US women according to type of provider. The percentage of women reporting receipt of contraceptive services rose between 1995 and 2002 (from 36% to 41%), and the level and mix of services received varied considerably according to type of provider. Women visiting publicly funded providers received a broader mix of services than did clients of private providers.
US women rely on a mix of public and private providers for sexual and reproductive health care services, including publicly funded family planning clinics and private-practice obstetrician-gynecologists or family practice doctors. Previous analyses found that the range and type of sexual and reproductive health care services (including contraceptive care, routine gynecological care, pregnancy-related care, and sexually transmitted disease [STD] care) received by women visiting publicly funded clinics differed from the range and type received by women visiting private doctors. Since the mid-1990s, a number of changes have occurred (e.g., in contraceptive methods and in the availability and financing of public and private insurance coverage of contraceptive care) that could affect the delivery and use of these services in the United States. An updated review of the use of these services since the mid-1990s was therefore needed. I examined nationally representative survey data for patterns and trends in the use of sexual and reproductive health care services by type of provider for women aged 15 through 44 years between 1995 and 2002.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
I examined the 1995 and 2002 National Survey of Family Growth for patterns and trends in the use of sexual and reproductive health care services by US women according to type of provider. The percentage of women reporting receipt of contraceptive services rose between 1995 and 2002 (from 36% to 41%), and the level and mix of services received varied considerably according to type of provider. Women visiting publicly funded providers received a broader mix of services than did clients of private providers.
Introduction
US women rely on a mix of public and private providers for sexual and reproductive health care services, including publicly funded family planning clinics and private-practice obstetrician-gynecologists or family practice doctors. Previous analyses found that the range and type of sexual and reproductive health care services (including contraceptive care, routine gynecological care, pregnancy-related care, and sexually transmitted disease [STD] care) received by women visiting publicly funded clinics differed from the range and type received by women visiting private doctors. Since the mid-1990s, a number of changes have occurred (e.g., in contraceptive methods and in the availability and financing of public and private insurance coverage of contraceptive care) that could affect the delivery and use of these services in the United States. An updated review of the use of these services since the mid-1990s was therefore needed. I examined nationally representative survey data for patterns and trends in the use of sexual and reproductive health care services by type of provider for women aged 15 through 44 years between 1995 and 2002.
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