U.S. women's use of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services: Variation by provider type

U.S. women rely on a mix of public and private providers for their SRH care. The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) provides detailed information about the range of contraceptive and reproductive health services received in the past year and the source of that care. Building on prior analyses of the 1995 and 2002 NSFGs that found variation in the range and type of services received by women visiting different provider types, we will examine these patterns using data from the 2006-2010 NSFG. This analysis will focus on variation in services provided by Title X-funded clinics compared to other publicly funded providers and to private providers. We will describe patterns of service use and examine factors associated with variation in women's choice and use of different types of providers and in the types of services and contraceptive methods they receive from these providers. Variables to be included in this analysis are women's socioeconomic characteristics, health insurance status, visit payment source, poverty status, as well as relationship status, risk for unintended pregnancy and level of risk for STIs. This analysis will provide important new information on variation and gaps in SRH service provision and on current trends and patterns in the mix of services obtained by different subgroups of women.