|
Introduction
The Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center
|
Reproductive Health Issues
by Gillian Ehrlich On February 3, 1999, the Native American Women’s Health Education
Resource Center conducted a focus group of Native women who use
Indian Health Services within the Aberdeen area of South Dakota
as their primary care provider. Women from the various tribes
within the Aberdeen area, ranging in age from 18 to 37 years,
participated in the group. The purpose of this focus group was
to gain perspective concerning IHS’s response and treatment of
Reproductive Health issues. This information will influence NAWHERC’s
RTI (reproductive tract infection) education campaign. Our questions focused on the information, preventative education,
treatment and follow-up care presented to women during their visits
to IHS. Treatment was reported to be inconsistent, ranging from
“They did pretty well with that,” in describing prenatal care,
to “None,” from an 18 year-old with abnormal pap smear results.
Another participant was referred to a mental health counselor
after going in for incapacitating menstrual cramping. Preventative
education was nearly absent. Participant’s remembrances of posters
in the lobby were the closest examples of preventative education
mentioned. These comments were common and distinct themes that
emerged through stories of their experiences. While some participants were “thankful” and felt “fortunate” IHS
was available for their use, these same participants agreed that
IHS has deficiencies in their services. Lack of information was
mentioned repeatedly in the two-and-a-half hour session, multiple
times with birth control. In addition, while all participants
had gone to IHS for birth control, not one participant had received
information, written or verbal, concerning the use of condoms
in conjunction with non-barrier contraceptive methods to protect
against STD (sexually transmitted disease) transmission. Confidentiality
was breached several times. One participant had been so concerned
with possible violation, she did not go in for a prenatal exam
until she was seven months pregnant. Inconsistency was another
common criticism of the system: “of the four pap smears I’ve had
in ‘98, they were all done by four different people,” said one
woman. The information gathered from the focus group will be instrumental
in developing NAWHERC’s reproductive health agenda over the coming
months. It is clear that advocacy, resources available to the
community, patient rights, preventative information, and questions
to ask a physician are as necessary as the details of any specific
STD, RTI, or birth control method. It was a very powerful group
of Native women that shared this very personal information. These
women were clear that they want to continue learning the epidemiological
and social skills to improve the quality of care for themselves,
their family and their Nations. “It is good that we are coming
to terms with it and hopefully we can teach our younger generations
to pay more attention to their health since we weren’t given that
opportunity.” A full report on the focus group findings is available
through Clearing House: contact NAWHERC for more information. |
