Striving for optimal sexual and reproductive wellbeing forrural women Presenter: Shannon Hill, Women’s Health Grampians

A project of the rural servicesof the Women’s HealthAssociation of Victoria

population health datararely represents

facts about access tofamily planning services

issues remain‘invisible’ and are not

catered for in planning or resource allocation

anecdotal evidence suggests rural women experience

difficulty accessing sexual and reproductive support

how can we measurerural women’s access to

family planning services?

the key issues impacting rural women’s access to:

condomsprivacy

48%

availability25%

travel18%

contraceptionavailability

37%

travel23%

cost16%

emergency contraceptionavailability

31%

privacy31%

travel17%

pregnancy counsellingavailability

35%

privacy20%

travel19%

abortiontravel

28%

availability27%

privacy20%

72% of respondents considered PRIVACY to be an issueServices are not always AVAILABLE in a timely manner 96% referred to services in Melbourne (50%) or out of town (46%)

information

availability

privacyclient choice

local services

service providers

community awareness

out of hours

referral pathways

female doctors

the key themes and recommended action areas:

confidential practice

Women's Health Grampians(03) 5322 4100

www.whg.org.au

Gippsland Women's Health Service(03) 5143 1600

www.gwhealth.asn.au

Women's Health Loddon Mallee(03) 5443 0233

www.whlm.org.au

Women's Health Goulburn North East(03) 5722 3009

www.whealth.com.au

Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West(03) 5564 5786

www.womenshealthbsw.org.au

Striving foroptimal sexual and reproductive wellbeingfor rural women