Virginia Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine speaks during a press conference on access to contraception on June 5, 2024, in Washington D.C. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
Ohio advocates are looking to a new year that will include fighting for contraceptive access protections on a federal and state level as recent CDC data shows the amount of Americans using birth control methods.
In the newest National Survey of Family Growth, analyzing numbers from 2022 to 2023, the CDC found 35.7% of females ages 15 to 49 used a “family planning service” over that year, with the biggest age group receiving services shown to be women aged 20 to 29. The most common service was birth control, used by 23.5% of women.
“Use of family planning services allows women to achieve their desired birth timing, spacing and family size,” the CDC stated in the report. “Women may receive related medical services when they receive family planning services, such as Pap tests. For others, the family planning services visit may be their only contact with the medical system.”
The new data comes at what advocates call a “heightened moment” for reproductive rights concerns, with a shift in presidential leadership and Republican-led statehouses who have moved anti-abortion and other measures related to bodily autonomy.
Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio, said concern over bodily autonomy extends to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals who are using this time to “stockpile” medication like hormonal replacement therapy, to make sure they have what they need in case the medications or services to get the medications are taken away.
“People are buying up Plan B and hoarding contraception as well, because the need is still there,” Steward said. “Folks are preparing for these things to be taken away, because when you remove something from society, people will make sure that need is met whether or not it’s removed.”
As discussions about whether or not legislation related to contraception will be needed – even in Ohio where a constitutional amendment was passed in 2023 including contraception in reproductive rights protected under the amendment – those who need the medications for themselves are understanding that obtaining the medicine is up to the individual.
“There’s a lot of onus on advocating for one’s self and making sure you’re being proactive when it comes to that,” Steward said.
Over the last year, policy advocates at Equitas Health have been working on issues they consider closely related to contraception protection, including sex education, pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention, treatment for bacterial STI prevention, along with direct work to focus on contraception.
“Much of this policy work was specifically focused on the federal level, given the larger opportunities to address broader issues of access to care,” Equitas Health director of external affairs Rhea Debussy told the Capital Journal.
It’s unclear what regulations might be up for consideration in the new administration, especially with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Department of Health & Human Services, not speaking on his stance on contraception. He has, however, previously taken the false stance that HIV was spread by drug use in gay men, among other concerns about his nomination as the head of the country’s primary health agency.
One effort back in June to protect contraception at the federal level was stopped by GOP members of the U.S. Senate.
Protecting access to things like birth control medication, IUDs and condoms on all levels is “crucial to ensuring that every person has access to the contraceptive option that works best for their body and their individual health care needs,” Debussy said.
While Debussy said Ohio’s reproductive rights amendment does protect Ohioans’ abilities to make contraceptive decisions, she said specific state legislation related to contraception use is also vital for “expanding access to care for communities in need.”
The CDC data on contraceptive use in 2022-2023 showed the largest group of women receiving birth control had incomes of 300% above the federal poverty level or higher. Women with household incomes of less than 150% of the federal poverty level only made up 20.1% of women receiving birth control.
“We remain committed to advancing care for all through our public policy work at the Ohio Statehouse and in the U.S. Congress, and per usual, we will continue to work with both Republicans and Democrats on the issues that matter to Ohioans and their health,” Debussy said.
Steward said Equality Ohio also plans to continue fighting against legislation that impacts LGBTQ+ individuals, including those that may come about to regulate contraception, gender-affirming care and other health treatments.
“It’s hard to understand how these types of laws are assisting society in any type of way,” Steward said.
He said Equality Ohio is “maintaining our resolve,” and plan to help any Ohio citizens who want to push back against legislation that might negatively impact their lives.
“We are citizens of Ohio, we deserve to be represented by our legislators in the same way as any other Ohioan,” Steward said.
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