June 4, 2012
College Students and the Potential Defunding of Planned Parenthood
I was recently asked to give an interview to an NYU journalist about this issue. I thought I would include it here because the defunding of Title X will drastically affect the college population. Feel free to weigh in…
1) How do you think the lives and health of college students, who have little
to no income, will be changed if Planned Parenthood goes out of business?
Title X is the only sexual health and preventative care safety net for millions
of women and Planned Parenthood has for years been an unsung hero in making sure
services are available to all women regardless of their ability to pay for much
needed services. I think that without question we will see abortions, sexually
transmitted infection and perhaps even cervical cancer rates increase among
college students.
2) What are the main sexual health concerns amongst college students?
Cervical and breast cancer, STDs including HIV/AIDS, and unintended pregnancies
are major issues for college students. College students need access to accurate
sexuality information and services in order to stay healthy, complete their
studies and become contributing members to society.
3) In your professional opinion, what do the majority of college students need
Planned Parenthood for? What services are most helpful to them and how would
taking Planned Parenthood away affect their ability to address their medical
issues?
I think most college students want to be sexually responsible by using
contraception (including emergency contraception) to avoid unplanned pregnancies
and using barrier methods to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. Planned
Parenthood has been an oasis to college students in providing these services in
addition to well-woman care and STD treatment. College is an important time for
students to learn to take care of themselves and become good medical consumers.
If Planned Parenthood were not an option I think we as a nation would be taking
away their ability to learn to advocate for their own health care.
4) Do you think it is fair that the House voted to de-fund Planned Parenthood
just because they are the number one abortion provider in the country?
I personally do not think this is about the budget. The math just doesn’t add
up. According to the Guttmacher Institute, by helping women avoid unintended
pregnancies, Title X supported centers saved taxpayers $3.4 billion in 2008,
amounting to $3.74 saved for every $1 spent providing contraceptive care. The
right wing for many years has been looking for ways to put Planned Parenthood
out of business one way or the other. The ironic thing is that Title X has never
funded an abortion. It’s a moralistic smear campaign.
5) Do you recommend that college students go to the University Health Center
first or go directly to Planned Parenthood?
I think there need to be options for students to go wherever they feel most
comfortable. Whether that’s the University Health Center for convenience or to
Planned Parenthood for an increased sense of anonymity. The choice should be
theirs — not the governments.
Stand with Planned Parenthood. Go to www.ppfa.org and sign the petition.
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