Achieving Equity in Postpartum Contraception Access

Abstract

Equitable access to contraception and contraceptive education has the potential to mitigate health disparities related to unintended pregnancy. Pregnancy and the postpartum window frequently offer reduced insurance barriers to healthcare, increased interaction with healthcare systems and family planning providers, and an opportune time for many individuals to receive contraception; however, there are additional considerations in method type for postpartum individuals, and contraceptive counseling must be thoughtfully conducted to avoid coercion and promote shared decision-making. This commentary reviews method-specific considerations and suggests priorities for achieving equity in postpartum contraceptive access.

Foreword: Racial Disparities in OB/GYN

“…In this collection, we highlight the importance of the postpartum period to advancing health justice. Focusing on health inequities racial and other minoritized persons experience in the postpartum period, the commentary by McAllister et al 6 delves into the role played by inequitable postpartum access to contraception and contraceptive education in perpetuating health disparities related to unintended pregnancy, and the authors outline evidence-based approaches, such as shared decision-making in postpartum contraceptive counseling, to achieve equity in this space. Also applying a health equity lens, Julia DiTosto et al 7 review the importance of timely postpartum followup and transition to primary care after adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), such as gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders, for future disease prevention; they also discuss interventions to improve postpartum follow-up and long-term health after an APO.…”