Yanely C. Rodriguez - Homeless Women = Birth Control/ Planned Parenthood

YANELY C. RODRIGUEZ 

HOMELESS WOMEN = BIRTH CONTROL/PLANNED PARENTHOOD

 

Research:
Its been mentioned that homeless women are more at risk for unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) due to the little knowledge they have about the usage and access to birth control. Most of the time homeless women are eligible to receive any type of contraceptive services from different programs such as planned parenthood for a minimal cost or no cost at all. However, its been stated that many of them don't know about these programs and their availability to do so. Not only that but a large portion of them are inexperience and are unwilling to use a different type of contraceptive due to that reason, which is why condoms are the most used. They want more clinics, programs, etc to provide or to address this to homeless women so that they can find a more effective contraception or one that suits them to protect them from any STI/STD. However, about two years ago President Trump wanted to defund Planned Parenthood which means that they wouldn't receive and/or be banned from having access to "Medicaid reimbursements and federal family-planning funds" resulting to losing more than $500 million per year. Not only that but they wanted to prohibit Planned Parenthood from billing the federal government for any type of services that dealt with; health care, contraceptions, primary care and testings for STD. 

Facts and Statistics:

"Table 1 shows lifetime use of contraceptives by homeless women of reproductive age"

METHOD                                   PERCENT 

-Condom                                          85%

-Pill                                                 66.3%

-Foam/gel/cream                             29.8%

-Suppository                                   16.7%

-Injectable                                       13.7%

-IUD                                               11.7%

-Diaphragm                                     7.9%

-Partner vasectomy/sterilization     6.5%

-Female Condom                            4.2%

-Implant                                          2.7%

-Cervical cap                                   1.6%

Condoms being #1, two-thirds being birth control pills, 30% = foam/gels/cream, 17% = suppository.

Planned Parenthood 

• 57 local affiliates 
• 650 health centers in the US
• 2015 = $553 million reimbursements and grants from the federal government
• $309 million from private insurers
• $353 million from donations 
• $80 million from other sources
• 2.5 million men and women in the US visit Planned Parenthood each year
• In November of 2016 during the federal elections, there was an increase "900%" of women seeking for the IUD 

Personal Impact: 

On a personal note, I don't have medical insurance since I was 18 so its been 3 years and when I first went to Planned Parenthood I was able to apply for the green card which covers me for a year and the reasons behind my visitation such as; birth control, Pap smears, check ups, breast exams, STD testings, abortion and etc. Like I mentioned before as someone who doesn't have medical insurance Planned Parenthood comes in handy and I can make sure that my health is fine without no cost. Now, that's where birth control comes in place. Many strongly believe that birth control is just to have "careless sex" but that's not entirely true. As someone who just got on birth control about 6 months ago, I can say that it has a huge impact on me. Personally, I didn't believe in birth control at first or that it will do me any good, I always thought that it would make my acne worse or that I would gain lots and lots of weight however, I do have plenty of friends and/or family members who are or been on birth control and have said that it has helped them and protected them while having sexual intercourses. The implant has helped me with my acne, it actually made it go away if anything I'll get a small pimple or two but like every 2-3 months. My periods had been shorter at first but now they are completely gone, I don't suffer from lower back pains, cramps and soreness on my breast.

Community:

"100% to go for it but it does come with a lot of personal issues while being on birth control or other methods. You should definitely do your research first. For homeless women we can try to post flyers and put them on billboards so hey can see it better and know that there's something out there that can help them." - Viv

"My opinion on birth control is that I believe it should be free at every medical center and very accessible to women. Without birth control many women will get pregnant and if I do not have access to it, it will affect me because it will be easier to get pregnant. I believe homeless women should have access and knowledge on birth control. Medical centers should offer free educational workshops for women to attend to have more knowledge on birth control and should also be free to every women including homeless women. We can help them and inform them by either posting sign near parts of the cities where there is a high homeless rate or pass out food and give women a small flyer announcing programs and clinics." -Gabby 

"My opinion on birth control is that its much needed and should be free to those that need it. Without birth control many women will have unwanted pregnancies and would have to live in a pregnancy scarce most of their life. I believe homeless women should get educated on birth control because a lot don't know and being homeless and pregnant just sounds scary and life threatening. We an help them and inform them by either posting signs around the cities especially where theres a high rate of homelessness." -Karina 

"My opinion on birth control and other contraceptive methods is that its good because it helps prevent pregnancy and protect you from STI/STD especially now in this generation where people tend to sleep around without any protection. I think it would affect them because a lot are low income and depend on Planned Parenthood since they tend to help them a lot. I think homeless women should seek help because a lot not all are on drugs and some may be sexually active or taken advantage of and might get some type of disease and if they were on birth control or any other method they can at least protect themselves. I think the best way to help them is to send out flyers and post them around."-Betty 

Works Cited 

Ciccariello, Chloe. “Defunding Planned Parenthood—The Stakes for America’s Women.” Login - EZ Proxy Server - Primary, 3 Feb. 2017, https://jamanetwork-com.mimas.calstatela.edu/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2600545.

“Homeless Women for Protection against Unwanted Pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Prior Use and Willingness to Use in the Future.” Login - EZ Proxy Server - Primary, May 2001, https://www-sciencedirect-com.mimas.calstatela.edu/science/article/pii/S0010782401001986.