Tanya Funchess1, Morgan W Bradwell2, Stephanie T McLeod2, Eden Blackwell3, Jerome R Kolbo2, Lei Zhang4, Olivia Hogan Ismail2. 1. College of Nursing School of Health Professions, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5122, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA. tanya.funchess@usm.edu. 2. School of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5122, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA. 3. Center for Mississippi Health Policy, Jackson, MS, USA. 4. Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Long-standing racial disparities exist in reproductive healthcare and have been associated with negative health outcomes among minority women. This study aimed to analyze the racial disparities in reproductive healthcare among Mississippi women, particularly as it related to contraception access, usage, setting, provider type, and payer. METHODS: A two-stage stratified probability design was employed - 95 of the 1500 licensed childcare facilities across the state were randomly selected, and then two to three classrooms were randomly selected within each facility. The children were the means to obtaining a weighted sample of parous women of childbearing age (15-44). Once a parous woman completed the study, she could invite a nulliparous friend of similar age, race, and socioeconomic background to also participate in the study. RESULTS: Racial disparities were found in the reproductive healthcare of both the parous and nulliparous groups. Overall, black women were less likely to receive services from an obstetrics and gynecology. Parous and nulliparous black women were more likely to receive their reproductive healthcare at the health department and less likely to use the most effective methods of contraception. CONCLUSION: Low use of the most effective methods of contraception, despite high levels of general contraceptive use and high insurance coverage, hints at additional barriers to full access for black women in Mississippi. More equitable access to effective family planning counseling and contraception can have meaningful impact on the lives of black women in our state.
BACKGROUND: Long-standing racial disparities exist in reproductive healthcare and have been associated with negative health outcomes among minority women. This study aimed to analyze the racial disparities in reproductive healthcare among Mississippi women, particularly as it related to contraception access, usage, setting, provider type, and payer. METHODS: A two-stage stratified probability design was employed - 95 of the 1500 licensed childcare facilities across the state were randomly selected, and then two to three classrooms were randomly selected within each facility. The children were the means to obtaining a weighted sample of parous women of childbearing age (15-44). Once a parous woman completed the study, she could invite a nulliparous friend of similar age, race, and socioeconomic background to also participate in the study. RESULTS: Racial disparities were found in the reproductive healthcare of both the parous and nulliparous groups. Overall, black women were less likely to receive services from an obstetrics and gynecology. Parous and nulliparous black women were more likely to receive their reproductive healthcare at the health department and less likely to use the most effective methods of contraception. CONCLUSION: Low use of the most effective methods of contraception, despite high levels of general contraceptive use and high insurance coverage, hints at additional barriers to full access for black women in Mississippi. More equitable access to effective family planning counseling and contraception can have meaningful impact on the lives of black women in our state.
Entities:
Keywords:
Access; Contraception; Providers; Racial disparities; Reproductive health
Authors: Gina M Secura; Jenifer E Allsworth; Tessa Madden; Jennifer L Mullersman; Jeffrey F Peipert Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2010-06-11 Impact factor: 8.661