Women’s Health: Political and Sociocultural Influences

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Table of Contents

Women’s Health Issue: Contraception
Influencing Factors
Personal Perceptions of Providers
Conclusion
References

Women’s health issues are related to topics of family planning, menstruation, contraception, and similar concerns. According to feminist theory, women’s health is challenged by societal and political pressure that often restricts or dictates women’s choices in accessing healthcare (Schuiling & Likis, 2017). As a result, women face problems that are tied to both their societal position and their physiology. In the case of contraception, otherwise called birth control, women (mostly cis-women) encounter obstacles in sex education, health care provision, and policy creation.

Women’s Health Issue: Contraception

Birth control is a variety of methods that assist individuals in preventing unwanted pregnancies. The most widely recognized type of contraception is condoms, which also function as protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Aiken & Scott, 2016). However, in the case of birth control, some major options are pills, injections, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) (Williams et al., 2018). Pills, patches, shots, and other hormone-based interventions have a high level of effectiveness only if they are taken or changed on a strict schedule (Schuiling & Likis, 2017). IUDs and birth control implants are easier to maintain as they last for several years. However, their cost of installation is high, and they may be uncomfortable for some persons.

Influencing Factors

As can be seen, the responsibility for contraception using long-term devices and medication lies on women, while male types of birth control are not as invasive or demanding. This issue places increased pressure on women to purchase drugs or pay for devices if they want to decrease their chance of pregnancy. Moreover, the state of sex education in the United States continues to limit young people’s knowledge on the subject of contraception, omitting such vital information as to where to access and how to use birth control (Hall, Sales, Komro, & Santelli, 2016). If a school or a facility teaches abstinence, women’s desire to use contraception is viewed as promiscuous and irresponsible (Hall et al., 2016). At present, the issue of contraception is becoming increasingly controversial, along with that of abortion. Aiken and Scott (2016) find that current policies create a hostile outlook of reproductive health, which affects women, especially minority women with low income. As a result, the topic of contraception is not approached from the view of care accessibility.

Personal Perceptions of Providers

Apart from political and social factors, individual providers can also have biases related to birth control. Higgins, Kramer, and Ryder (2016) discover that long-active reversible contraception (LARC) methods such as IUDs and implants are disproportionally recommended to women of color, as opposed to white women, in the United States. Moreover, the scholars find that some providers treat women seeking birth control options with disrespect, using a patronizing tone or dismissing their concerns related to the use of medications or devices (Higgins et al., 2016). Williams et al. (2018) suggest that Micronesian women are more likely to be recommended sterilization (a permanent contraceptive method) than white women. This pattern reveals problems that integrate gender- and race-based issues in the provision of care. Finally, one’s religious and personal beliefs may also be a factor in women’s treatment. Krupa and Wertheimer (2016) found that some pharmacists refused to counsel women on emergency contraception. This conclusion suggests that women may not access the necessary help in time to prevent pregnancy.

Conclusion

Women’s health issues are at the center of many political and social discussions, with such topics as contraception being a consistent part of policy debates. The use of birth control is a part of women’s health, but access to it may be limited for some persons. Male options for pregnancy prevention are limited, consisting mostly of condoms that are simple to use and cheap. Young people’s knowledge of contraception methods is dictated by schools which often adopt an abstinence policy that omits vital information. In healthcare, women also face providers’ religious, racial, and personal biases that expose some patients to unfair and disrespectful treatment.

References

Aiken, A. R., & Scott, J. G. (2016). Family planning policy in the United States: The converging politics of abortion and contraception. Contraception, 93(5), 412-420.

Hall, K. S., Sales, J. M., Komro, K. A., & Santelli, J. (2016). The state of sex education in the United States. The Journal of Adolescent Health: Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 58(6), 595-597.

Higgins, J. A., Kramer, R. D., & Ryder, K. M. (2016). Provider bias in long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) promotion and removal: Perceptions of young adult women. American Journal of Public Health, 106(11), 1932-1937.

Krupa, A., & Wertheimer, A. I. (2016). Impact of pharmacists’ religious and personal beliefs in dispensing contraceptives. INNOVATIONS in Pharmacy, 7(4), 1-7.

Schuiling, K. D., & Likis, F. E. (2017). Women’s gynecologic health (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Williams, A., Kajiwara, K., Soon, R., Salcedo, J., Tschann, M., Elia, J.,… Kaneshiro, B. (2018). Recommendations for contraception: Examining the role of patients’ age and race. Hawai’i Journal of Medicine & Public Health, 77(1), 7-13.

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Women’s Health: Political and Sociocultural Influences

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