Introduction: Over 420,000 women aged 13-44 in Tennessee depend on publicly funded contraceptive services, yet only 42.9% receive them. Lack of access to contraception leads to unintended pregnancies, which are associated with higher rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study explores perceived barriers to contraception and patient awareness of preexisting resources to mitigate such barriers in a rural region.
Methods: Women with a confirmed pregnancy establishing obstetric care at East Tennessee State University’s resident clinic were offered a 20-question survey assessing demographic variables and perspectives to contraceptive care.
Results: 141 survey respondents met inclusion criteria. 95.7% denied using contraception prior to conception. Of these, 24.8% reported their pregnancy was unintended. Only 59.6% reported knowing where they could access free long-acting, reversible contraception (LARC) in the community. 50.4% agreed it would be helpful to have a free community clinic providing reproductive health care. Specifically, 73.7% of participants reported they would benefit from free LARCs; 61.0% expressed need for evening hours and 67.4% for weekend hours.
Conclusions: One in four women experienced an unintended pregnancy. The known risks of unintended pregnancies to the mother and fetus will likely increase secondary to recent changes in abortion policies. Two in five women reported no awareness of resources for free LARCs in our community, suggesting that knowledge about and access to contraception is lacking at a time which women need autonomy over reproductive choices the most. Initiatives which aim to educate women regarding contraceptive care and to eliminate barriers which hinder access are warranted.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:asrf-2036 |
| Date | 25 April 2023 |
| Creators | Ramirez, Andrea, Shore, Summer Victoria, Senogles, MacKenzie, Wood, Brad, MD, Stoltz, Amanda, MD |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Appalachian Student Research Forum |
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