A new study by Liza Fuentes and Guttmacher Institute researchers provides a comprehensive assessment of access to primary and contraceptive healthcare in three states, including Wisconsin. The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, provide valuable insights into healthcare barriers people face when seeking to obtain desired contraception.
Access to contraception is especially crucial given increasing restrictions on abortion access in the United States.
In 2019-2020, researchers collected information by way of two surveys each in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Arizona. Milwaukee-based Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, also a partner in CORE research, supported patient recruitment efforts in Wisconsin.
Here, we present a few Wisconsin-specific takeaways. The key findings for Wisconsin were:
About 1 in 10 Wisconsinites experience delays or have trouble obtaining contraception.
- 10% of all reproductive-aged women and 12% of family planning clinic patients delayed or had trouble getting desired birth control in the last 12 months.
The most common barriers to getting desired contraception in Wisconsin have to do with cost. Among people reporting delays or troubles getting desired contraception in Wisconsin in the last 12 months:
- About one-third said they could not afford their desired contraception.
- Many blamed lack of health insurance (24% among reproductive-age women and 33% among family planning clinic patients) for not being able to obtain their desired contraceptive method.
- Logistical difficulties were also common. 12% of reproductive-age women and 15% of family planning clinic patients reported that it was too hard to get their desired contraception due to lack of transportation, the facility being too far away, or not having time to go.
- About 10% of each group also reported that they couldn’t get to a facility when it was open.
Wisconsin needs more person-centered contraceptive care.
- Person-centered care includes respecting the respondent as a person, letting the respondent say what matters to them about contraception, taking the respondent’s preferences about their contraception seriously, and giving the respondent enough information to make the best decision about their contraception.
- Unfortunately, 43% of reproductive-age women and 34% of family planning clinic patients in Wisconsin had not received person-centered care in the past.
The study reveals plenty of room for improvement in making contraceptive care more accessible and person-centered in Wisconsin.
For more:
- Read the study.
- View or download a CORE infographic (PDF | PNG) summarizing key Wisconsin findings.
- Wisconsinites prefer a diversity of contraceptive sources