A New Year, A New Look – Goodbye 2017; Good luck 2018

Here are the final News Reviews of 2017, a year which saw frenetic activity concerning contraception access and abortion care on the international and domestic US fronts.

The expanded Global Gag Rule and its international consequences were the most important news items of the year. Terrible public policy, matched by a tremendous reaction all over the world, starting on the day after he was elected with women’s marches across the country . “She Decides” coalesced international opposition to the administration’s policies. As well, “ countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America made strides toward ending gender discrimination . ” Chile approved a new abortion law.

Domestically the administration attacked access to contraception and other women’s health services . And yet with all the bad news, pro-choice policies and legislation in individual states almost equaled the number of restrictions – some 58 proactive measures – good news in challenging times. Resistance to many laws, including the repeal of Obamacare provided “ Moments of Hope .”

But was it “ the calm before the storm ”?

The best summaries of the most important stories of 2017:

New Study Shows a Historic Increase in Laws Supportive of Reproductive Rights in 2017 , Color Lines, 3 Jan 2018

Policy Trends in the States , 2017 , Guttmacher, 2 Jan 2018

For reproductive rights campaigners 2017 felt like the calm before the storm , Guardian, 30 Dec 2017

2017 in Quotes: The War on Women and Abortion , Texas Freedom Network, 29 Dec 2017

From pink pussyhats to rape laws, how women’s rights advanced despite adversity in 2017 , Reuters, 28 Dec 2017

2017: The year in abortion and birth control , Lady Parts Justice League, 27 Dec 2017

Moments of Hope, Inspiration During Trump’s First Year , Rewire, 21 Dec 2017

Top 10 moments for women’s rights in 2017 , Global Fund for Women, 19 Dec 2017

The most intriguing outlooks for 2018:

5 Meaningful Ways to Fight for Reproductive Rights in 2018 , The Mary Sue, 8 Jan 2018

How To Expand Reproductive Rights In America In 2018 , Bustle, 2 Jan 2018

How To Fight For Reproductive Rights In 2018 By Sticking To These New Year Resolutions , Elite Daily, 29 Dec 2017

Think 2017 Was Bad For Reproductive Rights? Here’s What To Watch Out For In 2018 , Sleek Arena, 29 Dec 2017

Looking Beyond Trump and Building Toward Reproductive Justice , Truth Out, 28 Dec 2017

A review of the quiet news week between Christmas and New Year’s Day reveals the mixed messages that surround the basic health rights of women and girls to access contraception and comprehensive abortion care. In Kenya, one group is promoting reproductive health for people with disabilities , including contraception, while in another part of the country a church is establishing an “ anti-contraceptive movement .” While Rwandan MPs want family planning services “beefed up, an editorial in Uganda calls family planning “un-African”. In Zimbabwe, an article notes the major health concern of illegal abortion – attributable to 30% of maternal mortality – and the conflicting laws that sow confusion and promulgate the practice.

In the US, an article in USA Today notes, “Nearly 50 years ago, then-Rep. George H.W. Bush of Texas  called family planning  a ‘public health matter’ and pushed for the first federal measure to provide money for free birth control. Another Republican, President Nixon, signed that law and called for a national commitment  to provide family planning  services in the next five years ‘to all those who want them but cannot afford them.’” And yet the Trump Administration continues its assault on basic contraception access . Could evidence make a difference? Colorado experienced a record drop – 54% between 2009 and 2017 – in teen pregnancy, thanks to a program that provides free or low-cost IUDs for teens.

Contraception Communication

Trained and sensitized health care workers are essential to providing contraception to satisfy the needs of their various constituents. An interesting study in Global Health: Science and Practice looked at post-abortion contraception use in 10 Asian and sub-Saharan African countries and found that “77% of women left with a contraceptive method after receiving abortion care. While contraceptive uptake was high among all age groups, adolescents ages 15–19 were less likely to choose a method than women 25 years or older… Health systems and facilities should pay increased attention to meeting the contraceptive needs of young women and adolescents.” Another study looked at involving frontline health care workers in Ethiopia with Implanon insertion improved contraception access . An initiative in Ghana is encouraging health professionals to educate their clients about family planning , where there is a need to improve Reproductive Health Services for adolescent girls . In Rwanda, an SMS tool is brining sexual and reproductive health information to young people , yet it takes more than technology, as UNFPA notes that “cultural beliefs can be a barrier to family planning usage .”

Abortion Access

Counseling is one aspect, but real access to the full spectrum of choices requires action at many levels in society, as outlined by the International Center for Research on Women in its report about the importance of investing in international family planning . In South Africa, where the law allows for abortion, too many providers are refusing, making it difficult for women to access the services. The Daily Maverick calls for “ going beyond lip service to protect and promote a woman’s right to choose .” Restricted access can have serious consequences, as experienced as a result of the Global Gag Rule at clinics in Kenya , which will lead to “an increased number of mortalities.”