My paper focuses on the impact of unplanned pregnancies and the unmet need for new contraceptive methods. This is an area that greatly impacts public health for all and in turn has a big impact on nursing. The IOM is helping to push for development of new contraceptive methods to fill this gap and in turn answer some of the world's biggest health problems.
Some areas that are affected by unplanned pregnancies include maternal mortality, maternal depression and increased risk of physical abuse. The impact of having children to close together also has a negative impact on the health of the world. Child spacing and planned pregnancy statistically shows an increase in infant survival and healthier children in general. Unplanned conception contributes to financial hardship for women and families. In addition new methods that could provide dual protection against HIV and other STD's would have a large impact on world health.
There are a variety of methods that are available today for contraception. However there are special groups of people in great need of more options. For example some include, postpartum breastfeeding women, women approaching menopause, men and women with health problems that limit choices and those with limited access to health care.
Fortunately there is a lot of promise for developing new products. The IOM has created some important guidelines for directing this research. The impact of creating these new options for family planning is great.
Providing knowledge to others that changes are happening in this area is an important thing as a nurse. Increasing the number of planned pregnancies will have large implications for changing the health of the world.
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Cami,
ReplyDeleteYour paper sounds interesting, good topic! you mentioned something about how there are groups of people who still need to be considered for different forms of birth control (ex-breastfeeding mothers). The other day at work somebody told me that their sister was pregnant again (this sister recently had a baby). She conceived while breastfeeding the last baby. After asking about her form of birth control, this individual's response was, "She doesn't use BCP's, besides, breastfeeding is a form of birth control anyway." I wanted to say, "Tammy said that's not true and I read it in my OB class!" Haha. Educating people is an important way to help choose the best birth control methods.