Sexual and Reproductive Health IS Primary Care: How to Put the Wheels On It!
Medically underserved populations—those whose social determinants of health limit access to timely and affordable medical care—often face additional challenges when seeking sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH). A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report indicated that less than half of uninsured women received basic, preventive reproductive health services in the past three years, with disproportionate effect on racial and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender minorities, and people who live in rural areas. With a longstanding history of bringing flexible and community-based services to vulnerable populations, mobile clinics provide an opportunity to decrease barriers to reproductive healthcare. Offering basic SRH services does not require significant infrastructure or cost, yet many clinics serving vulnerable populations do not provide these services. Offering SRH services such as cervical cancer screening, screening for pregnancy intention, and contraceptive counseling and management in mobile health clinics improves opportunities for individuals and families to live happy, healthy, economically stable lives. This presentation provides an overview of SRH disparities nationally as well as the potential role of mobile health clinics in addressing such disparities by integrating these services as part of comprehensive primary care. This panel discussion, which features clinicians providing SRH services on mobile units, provides high-yield tips on incorporating common SRH topics for busy primary care providers