October 2020: Power Updates Edition

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October 2020: Power Updates Edition

October 30, 2020

There are plenty of articles, publications, and stories published every month. In an effort to help you distinguish fact from fiction, save time in your already busy day, and share news you may not have otherwise seen, here are seven stories from the last month we thought you might find interesting:

Birth Control

Changes in Expectation of Relationship Permanence, Pregnancy Acceptability and Desire, and Contraceptive Use Over Time Among Young Latino/a Women and Men
The authors of this study measured the association between a person’s pregnancy desire and acceptability, expectation of relationship longevity, and use of highly effective contraceptive methods. Results suggest a link between these variables and imply that both pregnancy acceptability and relationship permanence may be important to address during contraceptive counseling. 

Pregnancy and Birth

Patient Screenings for Preconception Health Interventions at a Community Pharmacy
This study aimed to determine interest in and the potential efficacy of preconception health screenings in community pharmacies. More than half (56%) of participants in this study indicated that they wanted to learn more about preconception services offered at pharmacies. However, only 19% said that they wanted to schedule an appointment with a pharmacist. 

Abortion

Pregnancies, Births and Abortions in the United States, 1973–2016
In this report, Guttmacher Institute used data from all 50 states to better understand national and state-level trends around pregnancy, birth, and abortion from 1973 to 2016. Among other findings, they discovered a downward trend in the pregnancy rate among women age 24 and under and a contrasting increase in pregnancy rates among those age 35 and older. It was also discovered that in 2016 among those age 24 and younger, the pregnancy rate was highest in the South and Southwest. While for those age 30 and older, it was highest in the Northwest and Northeast. 

Sexual and Reproductive Health

COVID Won’t Stop Young People From Having Sex. Let’s Get Them the Health Care They Need
This article postulates that despite a myriad of life changes, the COVID-19 pandemic will not change whether or not young people will have sex. From personal experience, the author, Laura Lindberg, Principal Research Scientist at Guttmacher Institute, advocates for expanding young people’s access to essential sexual and reproductive health care through telehealth and public family planning clinics. 

The Undefeated Survey on Race and Health
A joint effort between ESPN’s The Undefeated and Kaiser Family Foundation, this project examines public opinions and experiences, with bias and structural racism, discrimination inside (and outside) of health care systems, and the impact of the pandemic. Information was collected through a survey that  included an oversample of Black Americans to provide perspective and personal views through a lens of being Black in America. 

Challenges of Seeking Reproductive Health Care in People Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
This study interviewed 26 women survivors of intimate partner violence to better understand their reproductive decision-making, access to health care, and opinions on efforts to restrict access to Title X clinics through the ‘domestic gag rule.’ While more research is needed to understand the prevalence of individuals seeking services for intimate partner violence in Title X clinics, valuable data was gathered on the challenges of accessing reproductive health care. 

Sexual Minority Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Literacy
To better understand the health literacy of non-heterosexual woman, this study interviewed 22 sexual minority women about their access to and understanding of information on sexual and reproductive health, including Pap and STI tests. It found that while sexual minority women’s health literacy related to the Pap test and decision-making was associated with trusting their provides, whereas STI-related health literacy was heavily dependent on an individual’s perceived risk for STIs.