Barriers to family planning services among patients in drug treatment programs

In July 1989, family planning services were integrated into 13 drug treatment programs in Philadelphia. To obtain information on the family planning needs of women in drug treatment programs, baseline interviews were conducted with 599 women. Three-quarters of these women had had a sexually transmitted disease, and although they were in a drug treatment program, 41 percent had injected drugs in the previous month. In addition, 62 percent of the women who were sexually active in the previous month had not used a contraceptive. Twelve months into the program, seven focus groups were conducted with 65 women and men to learn more about their opinions and attitudes related to contraceptives and family planning services in general. The discussions revealed that many of the participants were unsure what family planning services included, saw no need for such services or had had prior negative experiences with health care providers. There was also a great deal of misinformation about contraceptives and the effects they have on health.