Recent Articles
October 9th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[From Guttmacher]
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) instructed its staff this month to pressure at least six African governments to withhold U.S.-funded contraceptives from London-based Marie Stopes International (MSI), one of the world’s leading providers of family planning services in developing countries. This is the latest move by the Bush administration in a progression of increasingly restrictive family planning policy decisions that put politics first and women’s needs last.
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No Comments • Posted in: Policy, Action, Birth Control
October 8th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
Woman Fired After Supporting Co-worker’s Harassment Charge Gets Her Day in Court
By Gillian Thomas
This is the story of Vicky Crawford, a payroll administrator whose case will be argued today before the Supreme Court: At a meeting with representatives of her human resources department, she learned that her boss had been accused of sexual harassment. The investigators asked Ms. Crawford what she knew. Reluctantly, she disclosed that the same supervisor had harassed her, too. She explained that she had not come forward previously because, under office policy, he was the person to whom she was supposed to complain. Within weeks, Ms. Crawford learned that her boss was reprimanded for “inappropriate behavior.” But she also found out that her employer was investigating her job performance, and not long after, she was fired as were the other two women who spoke to the investigators. (The case is Crawford v. Metropolitan Gov’t of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.)
No Comments • Posted in: Policy
October 6th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[From Luci Manning]
SAN FRANCISCO – Hospitals, clinics, medical students and educators around the nation will hold activities this week and throughout October to encourage health care providers to routinely assess patients for domestic violence. October 8 is the tenth annual Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day (HCADV Day), organized by the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF). Educational sessions by, and for, the health care community will continue throughout October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
For the fourth year, the American Medical Students Association (AMSA) is partnering with the FVPF to organize medical school campuses nationwide around this issue.
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No Comments • Posted in: Policy
October 6th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[From Guttmacher Institute]
Clandestine Procedures Endanger Women’s Health
New research on abortion in Mexico has found a significant increase in the rate of abortions despite legal restrictions that virtually ban the procedure in most parts of the country. Between 1990 and 2006, the abortion rate in Mexico increased by one-third—from 25 to 33 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age—according to a study released today by El Colegio de Mexico, the Population Council Mexico Office and the Guttmacher Institute. As a result, Mexico’s abortion rate is now higher than the average rate worldwide (29 per 1,000) and the average regional rate for Latin America and the Caribbean (31 per 1,000). In the same time period, the number of women obtaining abortions annually in Mexico increased by 64%—from 533,000 in 1990 to 875,000 in 2006.
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No Comments • Posted in: Abortion
September 25th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[From Guttmacher Institute]
September 26 marks World Contraception Day, which highlights the many ways using modern birth control methods benefits women and their partners. Access to contraceptives allows couples worldwide to make responsible decisions about when to become parents and also helps secure women’s full and equal participation in modern society. Using any form of contraception dramatically reduces a woman’s chance of getting pregnant and either having an abortion or giving birth to a child she did not intend. The most effective methods virtually eliminate that risk.
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No Comments • Posted in: Policy, Emergency Contraception, Birth Control
September 23rd, 2008 • Contributed by Lon Newman
In a classic Grimm brothers’ fairy tale, the fisherman’s wife uses wishes given her to gain more and more riches and greater power, until finally she wishes to be the ruler of the universe. The fable teaches the consequences of greed, pride, and it is the ultimate “be careful what you wish for” allegory.
Reproductive health care advocates and providers have written extensively the last few weeks about proposed HHS “conscience protection” regulations — the period for public comment ends this Thursday, September 25.
In Wisconsin, approximately one-third of all health care organizations are religiously affiliated and many workers sign a contract promising to follow the Unit
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3 Comments • Posted in: Policy, Action
September 23rd, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
Rate Hits 30-Year Low, but Overall Trends Mask Growing Disparities by Race, Ethnicity
Abortions Occurring Earlier in Pregnancy and Fewer Teens Obtaining Abortions
The rate of abortion in the United States is at its lowest level since 1974, having declined 33% from a peak of 29 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 in 1980 to 20 per 1,000 in 2004. However, this overall trend masks large disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion across demographic subgroups, according to Trends in the Characteristics of Women Obtaining Abortions, 1974 to 2004.
“The analysis found positive trends, but highlights several issues of concern,” said Sharon Camp, Guttmacher Institute president and CEO. “Many Americans will welcome the news that there are fewer abortions, particularly among teens, and that a larger proportion of abortions are now happening very early in pregnancy. But at the same time, abortions are becoming more concentrated among women of color and low-income women. This presents a clear challenge to policymakers to redouble their efforts to improve access to subsidized contraceptive services for these women, thereby helping them to prevent the unintended pregnancies behind these abortions from occurring in the first place.”
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No Comments • Posted in: Abortion
September 16th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[Editors Note: From time to time we receive email updates from organiztions. This one comes to us from the Guttmacher Institute. We thought it was significant in scope, and wanted to pass it along in its entirety.]
Special Journal Issue Examines Broad Range of Problems
Associated with Abstinence-Only Education
Most abstinence-only programs of the type that have received $1.5 billion in federal funding do not help teens delay initiation of sex, and there is no scientific evidence to warrant their widespread use, according to a major new review of sexuality education program evaluations by Douglas B. Kirby. In contrast, many comprehensive sex education programs, which emphasize both abstinence and the use of protection for those who do have sex, were found to have a positive impact and should be replicated more widely. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach to sex education is effective and does not send a confusing message to young people.
The new review is part of a series of articles that identify major flaws in abstinence-only education, including problems with accuracy, effectiveness and ethics, all publish
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No Comments • Posted in: Sex Ed, Abstinence
September 12th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
On Tuesday, September 9th at a luncheon at the Arts Block in downtown Wausau, Family Planning Health Services (FPHS) honored 7 individuals who contribute to the health and well-being of Wisconsin women and families.
Outstanding individuals honored are:
Jenni Beyer of Merrill – Jenni is a college student pursuing a career in nursing. She volunteered her time and talent to appear in ads regarding Gardasil and the benefits of the vaccine.
Jan Ray NP of Barron - Jan is a supremely competent Nurse Practitioner who has spent the last three decades of her life improving the reproductive health and lives of Wisconsin women. From teaching and providing all methods, including Natural Family Planning, to providing services to individual women and to providing the state family planning program with updated medical guidelines on the provision of contraceptive and reproductive care, Jan gives her energy and best practices information unstintingly.
State Representative Marlin Schneider - Adams County- Marlin represents the 72nd Assembly District and has since 1972. Through the years, Marlin has stood staunchly in support of reproductive rights and care for Wisconsin women and families.
Hayley Cramer – Science Teacher Wausau West High School
Randy Erdman – Science Teacher Wausau West High School
Renee Groshek – Science Teacher Wausau West High School
Margaret Martin - Science Teacher Wausau West High School
These four teachers work together as a team teaching reproductive health education to their sophomore students. They teach them the relevance of the information to their own lives and futures. They strive continually to have updated, reliable and accurate information to impart to their students.
“Wisconsin is fortunate to have these talented, energetic and committed people working to make our families healthier. We all benefit from the actions of these courageous and outstanding individuals. They strengthen the fabric of our communities. I am especially honored to recognize their contributions to the health and well being of our citizens and our communities.” commented Lon Newman, Executive Director of Family Planning Health Services.
Family Planning Health Services, Inc is a private, professional, non-profit maternal and child health care provider in central Wisconsin. The agency provides reproductive health care and WIC (Women Infants and Children) nutrition services. Reproductive health clinics provide voluntary reversible family planning methods and information on planning for healthy pregnancies. FPHS reproductive clinics are located in seven counties: Adams, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage and Taylor. WIC sites are located in Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln counties. FPHS provides confidential reproductive health services to men and women of all income levels. Call 1-800-246-5743 for information and the nearest clinic location.
No Comments • Posted in: Action
August 28th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
As you know, President Bush recently signed into law H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (PL 110-293), which reauthorized the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at $48 billion over five years. In reauthorizing this legislation, Congress voted to eliminate the federal law that banned non-U.S.citizens living with HIV and AIDS from entering the United States, whether as visitors or immigrants. This is an important first step in restoring the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV and AIDS that were compromised by the ban.However, HIV still appears on the list of “communicable diseases of public health significance” that automatically prohibits entry into the United States. The Administration has the power to remove HIV from this list, which would allow for the full elimination of restrictions on travel and immigration for people living with HIV and AIDS who wish to enter the U.S.
Why Take Action?
For the last 20 years, U.S. law has prohibited HIV-positive non-citizens from entering the United States, violating their human rights and perpetuating stigma and discrimination. The law, driven by fear and stigma, was written at a time when many people had little understanding of how HIV is transmitted and when homosexuality was still grounds for inadmissibility to the U.S. (Gay Men’s Health Crisis). Under the travel ban, all HIV-positive travelers seeking to enter the U.S. must undergo an onerous waiver process that can dissuade people - including activists seeking to inform U.S. policy - from even trying.
Contact Congress TODAY!
We urge you to contact your Representative to endorse a Dear Colleague letter urging the Administration to completely eliminate the discriminatory travel ban. Click here to take action!
Thank you for contacting Congress and for spreading the word! For more information about U.S. restrictions on HIV-related travel and immigration, click here.
In solidarity,
Kimberly Whipkey
Advocacy and Outreach Associate
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
kwhipkey@genderhealth.org
301-270-1182
No Comments • Posted in: Sex Ed, Policy, Action
