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Research and Data

Power to Decide Data

A gif of a map showing the changes in abortion access across the country from May to December 2022.
NEW, INTERACTIVE MAPS

Alongside what should have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Power to Decide's AbortionFinder published new interactive maps that provide a compelling illustration of the terrible new chapter for abortion access that’s unfolded over the past year. The new maps convey the chaos sparked by the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022, which rolled back generations of reproductive rights by overturning Roe v. Wade—and now jeopardizes the reproductive rights of generations to come.

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Contraceptive Deserts

More than 19 million women of reproductive age living in the US are in need of publicly funded contraception and live in contraceptive deserts. Our map provides an up-to-date, visual description of where women in need can access birth control—and where they can’t—across the country.

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Survey Says

There’s a lot of information—and misinformation—when it comes to sexual health and contraception. We believe it's important to regularly assess and report on public perspectives about reproductive well-being.

View Survey Results
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State Contraceptive Landscape

These fact sheets summarize the number of women living in contraceptive deserts, or counties in which there is not reasonable access to a health center offering the full range of contraceptive methods, in each state. They also address the impacts of the Title X domestic gag rule on states, where applicable, along with whether the state has adopted policies to expand access to contraception. 

Find Your State
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Data-Based Blogs

Interested in learning about recent data released in the world of sexual and reproductive health? Check out our data breakdown blogs, which cover a variety of subjects such as condoms, abortion access, STIs, and much more. 

Read the Blogs

Interested in Using Our Data?

Are you interested in using our data for school or work?

We are not able to make the data more broadly available, but we have, in limited instances, made the data available to research partners who intend to analyze it and use it for publication. If you are a researcher interested in using our data for a specific project, please email data@powertodecide.org to request a data use agreement. 

Power to Decide Research

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Evaluation of an App-Based Sexual Health Intervention

 Power to Decide is currently leading a 5-year evaluation of Real Talk, an app-based intervention that uses authentic youth stories to provide information and resources on sexual health as well as mental and emotional health. Funded by the Administration for Children and Families/Family and Youth Services Bureau’s Personal Responsibility Education Program - Innovative Strategies (PREIS), this project is implemented in partnership with MyHealthEd, Inc. (the developer of Real Talk), Healthy Teen Network, and Child Trends. Using a randomized controlled trial, this study is evaluating the efficacy of Real Talk among adolescents at highest risk of pregnancy, with a focus on youth of color, sexual and gender minority youth, and youth in rural areas. Real Talk was originally developed as part of Power to Decide’s Innovation Next incubator implemented from 2015-2021.  

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Research Initiative on Contraceptive Access

With support from the Arnold Ventures, Power to Decide is leading an 18-month research initiative with two distinct components that address contraceptive access: 1) development of a contraceptive access measurement index that synthesizes existing measures of access; and 2) qualitative data collection with young people addressing their knowledge and preferences related to over-the-counter (OTC) oral contraception. To develop the contraceptive access index, we have conducted an environmental scan of existing conceptualizations and measures of access and are convening an expert workgroup 2023. The qualitative data collection component of this initiative involves focus groups with young people who face particular barriers to contraceptive access, including Black and Latinx youth, indigenous youth, and youth living in rural areas. Findings from these interviews will inform the development of materials for young people and pharmacists to support OTC access when it becomes available.

Staff Authored Publications

Other Resources

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Resource Library

We believe that one key to helping young people build that power is providing high-quality, accurate information about topics related to sexual health. Here, you will find a library of research including reports, fact sheets, and other resources.

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National and State Data

Are you interested in changes in the national teen birth rate? Do you want to know where your state stands compared to its neighbors? Our national and state data pages summarize data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Guttmacher Institute. 

See the Data