Women's Reproductive Health in Rockbridge County: A Community-Based Research Project

Abstract

In Lexington, women’s reproductive health issues have reached prominence of late, especially those of obstetric and prenatal care, because of the birthing center at Stonewall Jackson Carilion Hospital in April 2010. When the opportunity arose to assist a local alliance of healthcare providers in assessing community health by conducting a community-based research study, I chose to focus my project within the study on access to women’s reproductive health services in the area. This paper outlines my research methods and draws on this research in order to identify areas of proficient and deficient access to reproductive services within the community. I explore access to contraception, family planning services, teenage and unplanned pregnancy, prenatal care and support, obstetric care, and abortion services in and around the area. I then make recommendations for the different entities within this local coalition of health care providers, in order to address gaps in access and to extend care in Lexington and the greater Rockbridge area. [From Introduction]