I just read an article titled “African Americans and STDs: A silent epidemic”, written by U. S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio. The article states that “…a study was released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that revealed alarming statistics about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States. The report estimated that one in four young women between the ages of 14 and 19 in the United States, or 3.2 million teenage girls are infected with at least one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases including human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, herpes simplex virus, and trichomoniasis. Even more devastating, was the statistic that found that 48 percent of young African-American women are infected with an STD compared to 20 percent of young white women.”
I continue to be alarmed by the disparities in health that exist within communities of color. The article attributed higher rates of sexually transmitted infections to “…conditions in the community and access to healthcare” and went on to say that “a woman in an African- American community with a single partner is much more likely to be exposed to infection than a woman in a white community.” Some contributing factors are “men having multiple partners, multiple concurrent partners or men getting exposed to infections while in prison. “ The article also mentioned that there were a “small number of African-American women who are infected by bisexual men.”
This information is devastating because it suggests that even though an African-American woman may have only one sexual partner, she is still at greater risk for contracting an STI. In a culture that equates sexually transmitted infection with your worth as a human being, it becomes increasingly problematic for people to understand that they are at risk, even if they consider themselves to be a good girl (or boy). If I only had one sexual partner and I am not promiscuous, I must be safe, right? Wrong.
As if we have not been sounding the alarm for years, this article serves as yet another wake-up call for women, men and especially those who identify with a community of color. We have got to educate our communities about these health risks and methods for prevention and treatment. I’m sure we all have suggestions for the best way to proliferate this education. One way jumps out at me. Comprehensive sex ed, anyone?
“African Americans and STDs: A silent epidemic” can be found at http://www.michigancitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=75&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=5989&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1070&hn=michigancitizen&he=.com
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wow, Michigan is in bad shape...
Before I write this, I'd like to point out that I am not necessarily the most eloquent of writers. With that said, onward.
The Guttmacher Institute has put out some interesting statistics on contraceptives.
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/state_data/states/michigan.html
Now, some things in this struck me. A few of them are below:
1) In Michigan, 1,204,060 women are in need of contraceptive services and supplies. Of these, 582,140 women need publicly supported contraceptive services because they have incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level (406,230) or are sexually active teenagers (175,910).
These figures are just amazing to me - over 1.2 million women need contraceptive services and supplies, just in Michigan alone!!!
2) Every public dollar spent on family planning services saves the federal and state governments three dollars in Medicaid costs for prenatal and newborn care.
I would like to think this is a great argument in favor of family planning services, yet there are still people in Michigan that believe abstinence is the only way...
3) Michigan ranks 48TH in laws and policies - whether their laws and policies are likely to facilitate access to contraceptive services and information.
While I'm not surprised by this, it just makes me sad. If we want fewer unintended pregnancies, then why would we make it harder for women to have access to contraceptives and family planning?
And the another bit of information that is in this fact sheet:
About half of unintended pregnancies occur among couples who were using a contraceptive method in the month the woman became pregnant; either the method did not work properly or the couple did not use it consistently or correctly. Because the likelihood of pregnancy in the absence of contraception is high, the other half of unintended pregnancies occur among the one in 10 sexually active, fertile women who were not using any birth control method even though they were not trying to become pregnant.
So, does anyone want to tell me why we shouldn't teach people the proper way to use contraceptives or that they are important? Otherwise, we can continue to deal with the medical, social, economic, and personal tolls of unintended pregnancies in Michigan.
The Guttmacher Institute has put out some interesting statistics on contraceptives.
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/state_data/states/michigan.html
Now, some things in this struck me. A few of them are below:
1) In Michigan, 1,204,060 women are in need of contraceptive services and supplies. Of these, 582,140 women need publicly supported contraceptive services because they have incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level (406,230) or are sexually active teenagers (175,910).
These figures are just amazing to me - over 1.2 million women need contraceptive services and supplies, just in Michigan alone!!!
2) Every public dollar spent on family planning services saves the federal and state governments three dollars in Medicaid costs for prenatal and newborn care.
I would like to think this is a great argument in favor of family planning services, yet there are still people in Michigan that believe abstinence is the only way...
3) Michigan ranks 48TH in laws and policies - whether their laws and policies are likely to facilitate access to contraceptive services and information.
While I'm not surprised by this, it just makes me sad. If we want fewer unintended pregnancies, then why would we make it harder for women to have access to contraceptives and family planning?
And the another bit of information that is in this fact sheet:
About half of unintended pregnancies occur among couples who were using a contraceptive method in the month the woman became pregnant; either the method did not work properly or the couple did not use it consistently or correctly. Because the likelihood of pregnancy in the absence of contraception is high, the other half of unintended pregnancies occur among the one in 10 sexually active, fertile women who were not using any birth control method even though they were not trying to become pregnant.
So, does anyone want to tell me why we shouldn't teach people the proper way to use contraceptives or that they are important? Otherwise, we can continue to deal with the medical, social, economic, and personal tolls of unintended pregnancies in Michigan.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Unbelievable.
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion for women in the U.S. Today also marks the day that our state Senate passed the fourth attempt at banning abortion procedures in Michigan. The Senate bill mimics a federal law that is already in place--just in case federal prosecutors get too busy to make their own prosecutions.
While our elected officials should be worried about more important things, like the economy and state budget, they are busy fretting over an abortion procedure that is not even used in Michigan. Need proof? The Michigan Department of Community Health tracks abortions by procedure here. None of the nine "other procedures" was reported to be a dilation and extraction.
On January 7 of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued orders denying the appeals of the third unsuccessful attempt by the state of Michigan since 1996 to ban certain abortion procedures. You read that right--the third time the court struck down an unconstitutional state law since 1996.
Our elected officials seem to be obsessed with abortion. This most recent bill was introduced in the midst of last fall's heated budget crisis. The Legislature remains ready to drop everything for the opportunity to chip away at our rights. Let's remember this when the November election rolls around.
While our elected officials should be worried about more important things, like the economy and state budget, they are busy fretting over an abortion procedure that is not even used in Michigan. Need proof? The Michigan Department of Community Health tracks abortions by procedure here. None of the nine "other procedures" was reported to be a dilation and extraction.
On January 7 of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued orders denying the appeals of the third unsuccessful attempt by the state of Michigan since 1996 to ban certain abortion procedures. You read that right--the third time the court struck down an unconstitutional state law since 1996.
Our elected officials seem to be obsessed with abortion. This most recent bill was introduced in the midst of last fall's heated budget crisis. The Legislature remains ready to drop everything for the opportunity to chip away at our rights. Let's remember this when the November election rolls around.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sometimes the blogs just write themselves...
Well, who knew that sex education actually DELAYED sexual activity in teens..............!?!? You mean if you teach children and teens age appropriate information about sexuality they will have the tools to know how to wait to have sex????? What a shocker (note the sarcasm). Ya know this on top of the studies that have been coming out on increases on teen pregnancies (see Jamie Lynn Spears) and STD's, maybe the administration and anti-choicers will finally but a stop to abstinence only funding. Oh if only we were so lucky. Please Santa!!!!!
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Teenagers who have had formal sex education are far more likely to put off having sex, contradicting earlier studies on the effectiveness of such programs, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
They found teenage boys who had sex education in school were 71 percent less likely to have intercourse before age 15, and teen girls who had sex education were 59 percent less likely to have sex before age 15.
Sex education also increased the likelihood that teen boys would use contraceptives the first time they had sex, according to the study by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
"Sex education seems to be working," Trisha Mueller, an epidemiologist with the CDC who led the study, said in a statement. "It seems to be especially effective for populations that are usually at high risk."
Mueller's team looked at a 2002 national survey of 2,019 teens aged 15 to 19.
They found teen boys who had sex education in school were nearly three times more likely to use birth control the first time they had intercourse. But sex education appeared to have no effect on whether teen girls used birth control, the researchers found.
Black teenage girls who had sex education in school were 91 percent less likely to have sex before age 15.
The researchers did not evaluate the content of sex education programs, including whether students were taught about contraception or about abstinence only.
Earlier studies, which relied on data from the 1970s through the 1990s, suggested sex education did little to persuade teens to delay sex.
The researchers said they think the difference may be that sex education in the United States is now more widespread and is being taught at earlier ages.
"Unlike many previous studies, our results suggest that sex education before first sex protects youth from engaging in sexual intercourse at an early age," they wrote.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Holidays of Choice
This is the season that really reminds me how many choices we have in life. Choices concerning everything, from decisions about the not so important (cherry red, fire engine red, cranberry, crimson, or GA Bulldog red wrapping paper ?), to the moderately important (the $5 earrings or the $15 earrings for Cousin Sue?), to the legitimately paramount (How can I show my family and my community that I care? How can I live my life in the generous and loving spirit of the holiday season all year?)
All the decisions we expressly make during the holiday season can make us feel busy and stressed out. We are reminded both that we live in a world with tremendous abundance and in a world where our caring and generosity are needed as much as ever. To me, the true spirit of the holiday season lies in understanding both, and in making the myriad of decisions I have to make according to my values.
And like many of life's trials and life's lessons, these thoughts bring me back to how I view the Women's Rights movement in our country. In regards to the independence and treatment of women, we have so much to be thankful for and have come immensely far, yet we have plenty of work to do and battles to wage in 2008 that seem like they should have been settled decades ago. We live in abundance, but our energy and dedication to women's health are needed as much as ever.
Choice, as we know it in the movement, is not so different from the choices of paramount importance that we all make every day, particularly the ones that come to the forefront of our minds in the reflective time of the holiday season as another year ends. We move forward with our values and beliefs guiding us, to let our families and our communities know we care, and live our lives in the spirit of generosity and love.
All the decisions we expressly make during the holiday season can make us feel busy and stressed out. We are reminded both that we live in a world with tremendous abundance and in a world where our caring and generosity are needed as much as ever. To me, the true spirit of the holiday season lies in understanding both, and in making the myriad of decisions I have to make according to my values.
And like many of life's trials and life's lessons, these thoughts bring me back to how I view the Women's Rights movement in our country. In regards to the independence and treatment of women, we have so much to be thankful for and have come immensely far, yet we have plenty of work to do and battles to wage in 2008 that seem like they should have been settled decades ago. We live in abundance, but our energy and dedication to women's health are needed as much as ever.
Choice, as we know it in the movement, is not so different from the choices of paramount importance that we all make every day, particularly the ones that come to the forefront of our minds in the reflective time of the holiday season as another year ends. We move forward with our values and beliefs guiding us, to let our families and our communities know we care, and live our lives in the spirit of generosity and love.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Contraception Shouldn't be a Luxury: The Fight for Affordable Birth Control
It’s hard to ignore. Listen to the news or go into to a clinic for your monthly birth control pills: An increasing number of laws and regulations have made it harder for Americans (especially low-income Americans) to access birth control. The most recent of these unfortunate regulations, passed through the Federal Deficit Reduction Act in late 2006, prevents universities and nonprofit health care organizations, like Planned Parenthood, from purchasing and providing low-cost contraceptives to patients. Strangely enough, this outcome was a mistake- an unintended consequence of some loop-hole closing on the part of congress. As a result, since January, when the law went into effect, birth control prices have skyrocketed for over 3 million college students and roughly 750,000 low-income women. For nearly twenty years, pharmaceutical companies have been permitted to provide birth control pills at very low cost to particular providers who work with clients especially in need. The error eliminating this possibility has been hard to fix because certain members of the House and Senate are so out of touch with the average American, they’d like to see birth control harder to access. Someone should remind them that 98% of women in this country have used birth control!
And the sad part is, according to the Guttmacher Institute, rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion are on the rise among low-income women. It seems obvious that we need to help women and couples prevent unintended pregnancy by increasing the availability of affordable birth control- the opposite of what’s happened this year. On college campuses, birth control has gone from $5 or $10 dollars to $40 or $50 dollars a month. Some college health centers have stopped providing birth control at all. For many students and low-income women, birth control is now out of reach. To a college student or a low income woman, $50 is two weeks of groceries, or a fifth of a moth’s rent. No one should have to make a decision between these things and their monthly birth control.
This Congress has had over 9 months to fix this mistake, but has yet to do so.
To fix the problem and make birth control affordable again, Congress only needs to make a small change to the law, permitting pharmaceutical companies to once again offer these low-cost drugs to university health centers and safety net providers. This simple fix will not cost Congress or the American people a dime. But failing to do so will be devastating for students and low-income women.
We’re all up in arms about gas hitting $3 a gallon and housing costs rising upwards of 15%. The cost of birth control has skyrocketed- a whopping 900% in some cases! Degradation of women’s health is certainly worthy of public outcry as well. We must let congress know: SAVE BIRTH CONTROL NOW!
And the sad part is, according to the Guttmacher Institute, rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion are on the rise among low-income women. It seems obvious that we need to help women and couples prevent unintended pregnancy by increasing the availability of affordable birth control- the opposite of what’s happened this year. On college campuses, birth control has gone from $5 or $10 dollars to $40 or $50 dollars a month. Some college health centers have stopped providing birth control at all. For many students and low-income women, birth control is now out of reach. To a college student or a low income woman, $50 is two weeks of groceries, or a fifth of a moth’s rent. No one should have to make a decision between these things and their monthly birth control.
This Congress has had over 9 months to fix this mistake, but has yet to do so.
To fix the problem and make birth control affordable again, Congress only needs to make a small change to the law, permitting pharmaceutical companies to once again offer these low-cost drugs to university health centers and safety net providers. This simple fix will not cost Congress or the American people a dime. But failing to do so will be devastating for students and low-income women.
We’re all up in arms about gas hitting $3 a gallon and housing costs rising upwards of 15%. The cost of birth control has skyrocketed- a whopping 900% in some cases! Degradation of women’s health is certainly worthy of public outcry as well. We must let congress know: SAVE BIRTH CONTROL NOW!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Funny.....Romney agrees with Planned Parenthood....sky falls in
Last week, Presidential candidate and pre-campaign "BFF" of Planned Parenthood, Mitt Romney, had a little event outside an adoption agency in Greenville, S.C. where he said that he felt that all family planning providers should provide information on adoption as well.
Funny, Mr. Romney, but Planned Parenthood agrees with you for once since you flipped on your support of them.
See, Planned Parenthood believes in "all options counseling". What this means is that when a woman comes into any of our clinics, having to make the difficult choices that come with an unintended pregnancy, she is counseled on all the available choices to her, including keeping the pregnancy and subsequent child as well as adoption and abortion. Planned Parenthood is about CHOICES, whatever that choice may be when it comes to facing a difficult decision. If the right choice for you is adoption, then we'll do what we can to help you move forward with that decision. See, we know its not up to us to decide.
So, with November as National Adoption Month, I want to give a big thanks to the big faker, Mr. Mitt Romney for agreeing with Planned Parenthood on the belief of giving all options to women in difficult life decisions. I wonder if he could still say he believes in "all options" with abortion as one of those options. I mean, he used to before and he is all about providing all options to women.......right?
Funny, Mr. Romney, but Planned Parenthood agrees with you for once since you flipped on your support of them.
See, Planned Parenthood believes in "all options counseling". What this means is that when a woman comes into any of our clinics, having to make the difficult choices that come with an unintended pregnancy, she is counseled on all the available choices to her, including keeping the pregnancy and subsequent child as well as adoption and abortion. Planned Parenthood is about CHOICES, whatever that choice may be when it comes to facing a difficult decision. If the right choice for you is adoption, then we'll do what we can to help you move forward with that decision. See, we know its not up to us to decide.
So, with November as National Adoption Month, I want to give a big thanks to the big faker, Mr. Mitt Romney for agreeing with Planned Parenthood on the belief of giving all options to women in difficult life decisions. I wonder if he could still say he believes in "all options" with abortion as one of those options. I mean, he used to before and he is all about providing all options to women.......right?
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