Female Medicaid Enrollees with Disabilities and Discussions with Health Care Providers About Contraception/Family Planning and Sexually Transmitted Infections

摘要

For women with disabilities in particular, there is a need for information about both contraception and planning for a baby and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study purpose was to determine which variables were associated with whether health care providers discussed birth control or planning for a baby and what enrollees can do to prevent STIs among a sample of female Medicaid enrollees with disabilities. A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study of 584 female Medicaid enrollees in a Midwestern state. Independent variables included demographics, community participation, experiences with primary care providers and care coordinators, whether the survey was completed by the enrollee, the level of activities of daily living help needed, and whether or not they could see the same doctors after transition to Medicaid managed care. Outcome variables were whether or not women with disabilities had conversations with their health care providers about preventing STIs and also birth control/planning for a baby. Results indicate that women's likelihood of having conversations about sexual health with their health care provider varied significantly between participants of different age, ethnic, and racial groups, as well as between women with varying levels of independence. Further research should explore why particular groups of female Medicaid enrollees with disabilities are more or less likely to have these conversations with their providers.