Access to Contraception and Reproductive Health Care in Disaster Settings

What is it about?

Even though we are starting to pay attention to the impact of disasters on women's health, we know little about women's experiences in accessing contraception and other reproductive healthcare during and after disasters. This paper is a review, not an empirical study. In this paper, I reviewed literature that helps establish the need for studying the impact on women's access to contraception and reproductive healthcare. I also reviewed present policies regarding contraception that help show how women may face difficulty in getting contraception in non-disaster times. If women have difficulty getting their contraception during non-disaster times, how might that impact their availability to do so during and after disasters?

Featured Image

Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash

Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important because contraception and reproductive healthcare are vital to maintaining women's health. In fact, the Institute of Medicine declared contraception to be paramount in women's health and well-being. Ensuring women can obtain contraception during and after disasters is crucial to maintaining their health during times where their health might be more vulnerable (such as during and after disasters).