Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #99846

Marianne Hillemeier, PhD, Health Policy and Administration, The Pennsylvania State University, 116 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802-6500, (814) 863-0873, mmh18@psu.edu and Carol S. Weisman, PhD, Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, A210, Penn State College of Medicine, 600 Centerview Drive, Suite 2200, Hershey, PA 17033-0855.

Women's preconceptional health influences subsequent risk of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes including preterm birth and low birthweight. This study examines whether women who intend to become pregnant differ from those who do not in health care access. Methods: A RDD telephone survey was administered to 2,000 reproductive aged women in central Pennsylvania. Information gathered included pregnancy history, contraceptive use, intent to become pregnant within the next year, at some other time in the future, or not at all, usual source of care, provider type, insurance status, health services received in past year, and perceived obstacles to health care. Socioeconomic and residence information was obtained allowing linkage to county-level data about health care resources. Findings: About one in five women were uninsured at some time during the previous year, and 6% lacked a usual source of care. Access to care measures varied among groups of women with different pregnancy intention. The most favorable access measures were seen among women not planning to become pregnant who were, for example, least likely to have been uninsured and more likely to have a usual source of care. In contrast, women who were planning to become pregnant either in the next year or at some other time in the future were at higher risk of being uninsured and lacking a usual source of care. Conclusion: Because poor preconceptional health status may precipitate adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, increasing access to health care for reproductive-aged women at risk for pregnancy should be a priority.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Explain the relevance of women's preconceptional health status to risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes
• Describe variation in women's health care access by pregnancy intention

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Birth Outcomes

Related Web page: www.womenshealthcoe.psu.edu/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.