NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation study: Ohio women still face hurdles accessing emergency contraception in emergency rooms
Columbus, OH- At a press conference in Columbus today, representatives of the NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation were joined by State Rep. Dan Stewart to unveil the results of ”Access 2007, An Update on the Availability of Emergency Contraception in Ohio’s Emergency Rooms.” The report is the second phase of a 2004 survey of emergency rooms in Ohio that found that only two hospitals stated they gave emergency contraception (EC) to women in their emergency room for any reason.
“It was our hope that the 2004 survey results would shine a light on the obstacles that Ohio women faced every day and encourage emergency rooms to dispense EC to all women that need it,” said Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “Thankfully we found a significant increase in the number of hospitals which routinely give EC to sexual assault survivors. However, there are still hospitals who will tell a woman—even a rape victim—‘no we won’t give you that medication.’ It’s unbelievable that women are being denied this safe, effective, back up form of birth control.”
The survey was based on a previous survey conducted by NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation in 2004, in an effort to determine hospital policies on EC distribution in the emergency room (ER). The 2007 report examines the availability of EC in Ohio hospital emergency rooms for sexual assault victims and women who have experienced contraceptive failure. A representative of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio called all Ohio hospital emergency rooms between April 2006 and March 2007. Each hospital also received a mailed questionnaire on two separate occasions. The survey includes the following findings from 84 of the state’s 167 emergency rooms (roughly 50 percent of the facilities) that responded:
Background on Emergency contraception (EC): Often referred to as the morning-after pill, EC is a higher dose of ordinary birth control pills, which reduces a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant by up to 89 percent when taken within days of unprotected sex. EC prevents pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation, fertilization, or implantation before a pregnancy occurs, and does not work if a woman is already pregnant. It may be used when other birth control methods fail or are not used, including when women are sexually assaulted. It can dramatically reduce unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation is a proud member of Greater Cleveland Community Shares and Community Shares of Mid-Ohio. To obtain a copy of the complete report please call NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation at 216.283.2180 or 614.221.2594 or email Kellie Copeland at kellie@prochoiceohio.org.
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