Use Of Family Planning Services In The United States 1982 And 1988

This preliminary report on the 1988 data from Cycle IV of the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) collected by the US National Center for Health Statistics. Compares 1988 figures with the 1982 Cycle III data. 8450 women 15-44 years old across the US were interviewed in 1988. 37% (1982) and 35% (1988) of the women had family planning visits in the previous year. 50% of the 20-24 year olds used family planning services in 1988 (the highest % group), whereas 25-29 year olds were the highest group in 1982. Among teenagers, 41% of the black women and 34% of the white women had a visit. Over 20 years old, the racial differences were not significant. In 1988, low and high income groups were equally likely to use family planning. In 1982, low income women were more likely to have had a visit. 64% of the women used a private doctor and 36% used a clinic (these are similar to 1982 rates). A significantly larger number of black women used the clinics than white in all age groups. Black teenagers use clinics more than white teenagers, however the differential decreased from 1982 (74% vs. 44%) to 1988 (65% vs. 61%). The race differential remained large for women 20 and older (e.g. for 1988, 62% of black and 38% of white women 20-24 years old used clinics). The amount of teenagers using a clinic has risen sharply from 51% (1982) to 62% (1988), whereas only 19% (1982) and 23% (1988) of women over 30 used clinics. Low-income women predominantly use clinics. More low-income white women used clinics in 1988 (56%) than in 1982 (40%). 70% of black women used a clinic for a 1st visit vs. 54% of white women in 1988.

Experts estimate that nearly 60 percent of all U.S. pregnanciesâ€"and 81 percent of pregnancies among adolescentsâ€"are unintended. Yet the topic of preventing these unintended pregnancies has long been treated gingerly because of personal sensitivities and public controversies, especially the angry debate over abortion. Additionally, child welfare advocates long have overlooked the connection between pregnancy planning and the improved well-being of families and communities that results when children are wanted. Now, current issuesâ€"health care and welfare reform, and the new international focus on populationâ€"are drawing attention to the consequences of unintended pregnancy. In this climate The Best Intentions offers a timely exploration of family planning issues from a distinguished panel of experts. This committee sheds much-needed light on the questions and controversies surrounding unintended pregnancy. The book offers specific recommendations to put the United States on par with other developed nations in terms of contraceptive attitudes and policies, and it considers the effectiveness of over 20 pregnancy prevention programs. The Best Intentions explores problematic definitionsâ€""unintended" versus "unwanted" versus "mistimed"â€"and presents data on pregnancy rates and trends. The book also summarizes the health and social consequences of unintended pregnancies, for both men and women, and for the children they bear. Why does unintended pregnancy occur? In discussions of "reasons behind the rates," the book examines Americans' ambivalence about sexuality and the many other social, cultural, religious, and economic factors that affect our approach to contraception. The committee explores the complicated web of peer pressure, life aspirations, and notions of romance that shape an individual's decisions about sex, contraception, and pregnancy. And the book looks at such practical issues as the attitudes of doctors toward birth control and the place of contraception in both health insurance and "managed care." The Best Intentions offers frank discussion, synthesis of data, and policy recommendations on one of today's most sensitive social topics. This book will be important to policymakers, health and social service personnel, foundation executives, opinion leaders, researchers, and concerned individuals.

There are numerous reasons to hasten the introduction of new and improved contraceptivesâ€"from health concerns about the pill to the continuing medical liability crisis. Yet, U.S. organizations are far from taking a leadership position in funding, researching, and introducing new contraceptivesâ€"in fact, the United States lags behind Europe and even some developing countries in this field. Why is research and development of contraceptives stagnating? What must the nation do to energize this critical arena? This book presents an overall examination of contraceptive development in the United Statesâ€"covering research, funding, regulation, product liability, and the effect of public opinion. The distinguished authoring committee presents a blueprint for substantial change, with specific policy recommendations that promise to gain the attention of specialists, the media, and the American public. The highly readable and well-organized volume will quickly become basic reading for legislators, government agencies, the pharmaceutical industry, private organizations, legal professionals, and researchersâ€"everyone concerned about family planning, reproductive health, and the impact of the liability and regulatory systems on scientific innovations.