Abstract
comparisons across studies. Results from reviewed analysis do, however, suggest that publicly funded family planning services avert a significant proportion of unintended pregnancies, improve birth outcomes and reduce governmental costs. Conclusion The reviewed literature demonstrates that publicly financed family planning care promotes control over childbearing decisions and improved birth outcomes, while saving local, state and federal governments money. However, this review also identified several important research gaps and flaws in the existing evidence base, particularly in the generalisability of results and narrow set of measures used to estimate impact. We suggest several ways to expand the field of available research by leveraging opportunities afforded through state Medicaid reform legislation and Medicaid expansions under the Affordable Care Act.
Highlights
Low-income women in the United States obtain access to family planning services in large part through publicly subsidised federal, state and local programmes
Results from reviewed analysis do, suggest that publicly funded family planning services avert a significant proportion of unintended pregnancies, improve birth outcomes and reduce governmental costs
We suggest several ways to expand the field of available research by leveraging opportunities afforded through state Medicaid reform legislation and Medicaid expansions under the Affordable Care Act
Summary
Low-income women in the United States obtain access to family planning services in large part through publicly subsidised federal, state and local programmes. This article discusses the impact of publicly financed family planning services on pregnancies, births and costs. Materials and methods This article reviews 11 published evaluations of publicly financed family planning services and its impact on pregnancies, births and costs for the period 1990–2013. Low-income women in the United States rely, in large part, on publicly financed family planning services to help achieve their childbearing goals and prevent unintended pregnancy. Close to seven million sought services at publicly funded clinics, accounting for one of every four women in the U.S who accessed family planning care[1] Public funding for these services comes from a number of federal, state and local sources.
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