Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction:

Healthy People 2010 want to: Increase the proportion of family planning agencies that offer emergency contraception (9.5)

Thomas wants to pass bill H.R. 5561 Emergency Contraception Education Act of 2010

I decided to focus on emergency contraception use. I think everyone needs to be aware of the options that are out there for them. Receiving education will give them the knowledge to make the best decisions for themselves.

Who is affected by the issue?

Many people and places will be affected by emergency contraceptive use. People and places that could potentially be affected would be sexually active people, places involved in family planning like Planned Parenthood, hospitals, and clinics. Most sexually active people will be affected by emergency contraceptive use. Whether you are the girl or women who could become pregnant or the boy or man who could become a father you are equally affected. This also effects organizations like Planned Parenthood or hospitals/clinics because they need to be just as educated about contraceptive use so they can give reliable information.

Who is affected most?

The people who are affected most by emergency contraceptive use and education would be the women who have the option of taking it. There are too many unwanted pregnancies in the United States. Women should have the choice to have a baby or prevent it. Emergency contraceptive education and resources would give girls or women the option of having a baby when they are ready. Just because education is given does not mean they have to use this product it would be just for their information.

Who loses and what do they lose?

Women who have an unplanned pregnancy and the father of the baby would lose a lot. Depending on their age, they would lose different things. Teenage parents would lose their life. Most teenage parents struggle for years because of all the items babies need. Many do not finish high school, they break up, experience high levels of stress, or lose friends or family. Older women may not have the resources to support a child either. Many loses come with unplanned pregnancies because of exactly what I just said....they are unplanned.

Who gains and what do they gain?

Women who use emergency contraceptives and do not get pregnant gain from this. They were able to receive education on the use of this pill and then find the resources to get it. Most hopefully knew the benefits and consequences before using the pill. Men also gain from contraceptive use. Even though they are not the ones using this they should be aware of what it is and that it is out there. Men and women who are not prepared to be parents should know where to go and how to use it so there are less pregnancies.

What are the consequences of the issue?

For Individuals:
Unplanned pregnancies will keep rising if people do not have the education on emergency contraceptives or resources to get them. Instead of preventing the process of implantation more women will have abortions or give their children up for adoption. (Do not get me wrong adoption is a great thing but it can be a very long process for kids to get adopted so most end up in a foster home for period of time.) Having a baby is also very expense. The cost for new parents usually causes a lot of stress and hardship for them.

For the families:
Depending on the age of the females the families could experience some consequences. Parents or guardians may not approve of emergency contraceptives. If they received proper education on the benefits of its use they may feel better about letting their kids use it. Also, if teenagers end up getting pregnant many times the parents are the ones that bare some of the responsibilities for the child because their kids are unable to raise it.

For Society:
In our society we have many unplanned pregnancies. We all bare the cost for this with our tax dollars. Instead of having unplanned, unwanted kids we should put more time and effort towards education and resources to preventing them. All family planning agencies should be able to administer emergency contraceptives as long as the people receiving this are given some education beforehand. Also, our foster-care homes are suffering. There are starting to become too full or do not have enough money or other resources to sustain the kids they have now.

What is the economic impact of the issue?

The cost of educating those about emergency contraceptive use does not even compare to the cost of unplanned pregnancies. The cost of having a baby, giving it up for adoption, or having an abortion are more expensive to the family or society than giving out information on taking a pill that cost between 30 and 50 dollars that will prevent a pregnancy. Most of the time the pill does not cost you anything as long as you have insurance. Society ends up footing out a lot of money for children because when they are put into foster homes or on assistance programs part of our tax dollars go to supporting them. Our society would benefit from having less people on assistance programs or children in foster homes because then we would have more money to put towards health insurance or other programs that benefit people.

What is the social impact of this issue?

Some social impacts that could result because of this issue could be the thought that more people will be sexually active because there is a pill that will prevent pregnancy. Hopefully with the proper education people will know this should not be used as a permanent form of birth control. Another issue could be whether parents will let their kids use this. Women may also be afraid to use it because of what people may think of them.

What are the barriers?

Barriers to this issue are getting people to support this and finding the money to support it. Parents may oppose the use of this because it could give the impression it is okay to have sex because there is a way to avoid pregnancy. Also pro-choice people are viewing this as a form of abortion so they do not support it. Some people are under the impression that because this pill is readily available more kids will want to have sex because there are ways to avoid pregnancy.

To overcome these issues we need to educate. We need to show people that this pill does not terminate a baby or cause harm to ones' body. Emergency contraceptives prevent the process of implantation so no baby is actually made. Receiving education and having the resources to get more information should help people feel better about making the decision to using contraceptives or not.

What are the resources?

The main resource we have is education. Communities need to be informed on how emergency contraceptives work. By going through a community meeting, getting hand outs, or talking to public health nurses people will be able to get the proper education on how to use these. People will then be able to address any concerns or questions they have and get reliable answers. This resource could be tapped by going through clinics, hospitals, or agencies like Planned Parenthood who could receive grant money from the government.

What is the history of this issue?

I found an article from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stating that they are stepping up efforts to get emergency contraception to women. This article was released on May 8th, 2006. From personal experience within the last few years the amount of information regarding emergency contraceptives has increased from the use of hand-outs, posters, and discussion with health professionals.

Allies and Opponents

People that would support this would be most people in the health field (doctors, nurses, health educators). If unplanned pregnancies can be avoided without harming the person or aborting a baby this would be the method of choice.

People who would oppose this would be some doctors or nurses and pro-choice activists. Some doctors or nurses would oppose this because there has not been any studies that go back long enough to see if there are any long-term effects. There has also been the controversy about hormones in birth control increasing breast cancer in women. Pro-choice activists are also arguing that using emergency contraceptives is just like abortion, when in reality it is not the same at all. To create a common ground between allies and opponents I think all women should have to talk to a nurse or doctor or go to a meeting to receive information about emergency contraceptives so they are fully aware of what they are taking.

Recommendations:

I think policy holders should vote yes for this bill because it is a safe way to lower the number of unwanted, unplanned pregnancies. Emergency contraceptives provide a second chance for those who happen to have an accident.

Resources:

Planned Parenthood, American Association for Health Education (AAHE), Women's Rights, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG), THOMAS