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Given the recent U.S. Supreme Court reversal of the 1973 Roe V. Wade decision, which ruled that the Constitution conferred the right to an abortion, access to reproductive health services is more crucial than ever.
A recent study by CUNY SPH researchers reveals support for providing reproductive health services in primary care settings among a diverse group of health care stakeholders.
In a series of qualitative key informant interviews with respondents in the reproductive justice and health policy fields, patient educators and advocates, and both primary care and OB/Gyn physicians, Associate Professor Diana Romero and colleagues sought to understand perspectives regarding providing reproductive health services in primary care settings, including asking patients about pregnancy intentions and providing long-acting reversible contraception.
The respondents supported expanding reproductive health services in primary care but noted that improvements to pregnancy intention screening measures should be made to avoid coercion and eliminate the possibility of provider bias.
“Stakeholders want to ensure patients receive complete, unbiased information on contraceptive options respectful of their autonomy so they can make informed choices,” says Dr. Romero. “Incorporating reproductive justice principles into the screening process may increase informed patient decision-making and reproductive autonomy.”
