Type of Submission
Poster
Keywords
Emergency contraceptives, indigent populations
Campus Venue
Dixon Ministry Center, Alumni Hall
Location
Cedarville, OH
Start Date
4-10-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-10-2013 5:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Included in
Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Pharmacy Administration, Policy and Regulation Commons
Apr 10th, 1:00 PM
Apr 10th, 5:00 PM
Emergency Contraceptive (EC) Use in Indigent Populations
Cedarville, OH
Comments
Abstract:
Introduction: The indigent population in America is defined as persons who do not have the financial means to support themselves and are below the federal/state poverty line. Indigent women are disproportionately affected by unwanted, unplanned pregnancies. In Medicaid-eligible populations, many women have reported inconsistency in taking their normal birth control medication after having their first child which may result in another unwanted pregnancy. This has led to a drive for contraceptive education to be integrated in as many places as possible.
Studies have previously shown that the lack of knowledge (i.e. how Emergency Contraceptives (ECs) work or where to obtain them) is a major factor deterring women from using them; therefore, this study will address several additional factors that may influence the lack of levonorgestrel use in indigent women.
Objectives: To determine the impact of morals and religion, patient education, and cost on EC use in the indigent population.
Methods: The study is as a cross-sectional observational study that will allow us to conduct exploratory research and investigate relationships among our variables (indigent population and their use of ECs). A cross-sectional study design was chosen in order to observe a stratified group of subjects at one point in time and draw conclusions about the population based on comparisons made among the strata. To be included in the study, participants will be: at least 18 years old, female, and fall below the federal poverty level, which varies according to the number of individuals in a given household. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are based upon the psychometric testing of the instruments utilized in this study. Qualified patients will be given informed consent to sign prior to answering the survey questions. Participants will then be asked to respond to 20 questions focusing on demographics, education and religious views. The information obtained will be confidential.
Results: Data collection will begin from May 2013 to May 2014 once IRB approval is obtained. Analyses of data will be done using SPSS. Results will be presented in 2015.