229883 Exploring the political contexts that have challenged the National Family Planning Program (Title X) over the past four decades: Oral histories with key stakeholders in Florida

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Cheryl A. Vamos, PhD, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD, MPH , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Karen Perrin, PhD , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Charles Mahan, MD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Eric R. Buhi, MPH, PhD, CHES , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Marilyn Myerson, PhD , Department of Women's Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Background: Title X, enacted in 1970, remains the only policy devoted solely to providing voluntary and confidential family planning and related preventative services to all those in need. Despite Title X's significant public health achievements, this policy continues to receive scrutiny and faces political, financial and social challenges. Purpose: To explore key stakeholders' perceptions regarding the political contexts that have surrounded this policy over its historical maturation.

Methods: Six oral histories were conducted with key stakeholders in Florida using a semi-structured interview guide developed from Title X's legislative history, McPhail's Feminist Policy Analysis Framework, and the literature. The oral histories were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using open, axial and selective coding in NVivo 8.

Results: Participants identified and discussed the following political topics and controversies that they perceived have directly or indirectly affected Title X: abortion; abstinence-only education; adolescents; family planning methods; parental notification; political administrations; and school-based clinics.

Conclusion: Participants' recollections regarding the political contexts that have surrounded Title X over the past 4 decades provided a broad yet rich description of the barriers, attacks, and the effects that other polices exert over this policy. Such opposition hinders Title X's ability to support women's right to reproductive health. Social justice is essential for reproductive health access, to reduce reproductive related health disparities, and to promote overall health and well-being among women and families. Understanding the political issues that plague reproductive health policies is needed to create a newfound political will.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe political factors that have directly/indirectly affected Title X’s ability in carrying out its mission. 2. Explain the need for the elimination of political barriers when providing access and services to reproductive health care.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator and have the appropriate research experience.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4070.0: Family planning: Reproductive health justice