Focus Area 5
Advance sexual and reproductive health equity (SRHE) for all, including those most impacted by inequities in contraceptive access
Context
Since 2022, the CECA has brought together evidence and diverse stakeholders to understand the impact of shifts in the sexual and reproductive health landscape, foster strategic collaboration, and improve contraceptive access and sexual and reproductive health equity (SRHE) more broadly.
The resulting Strategy to Preserve and Expand Contraceptive Access features five focus areas that detail what we aim to achieve and communicate where people should direct their work, recommended actions to prioritize and move forward now, and examples of work completed or underway.
Recommended Actions to Advance SRHE for All
Shift programmatic goals, internal and external messaging, and the overall conversation to ground contraceptive access work in a holistic vision of SRH that centers justice, equity, and autonomy. This begins with being educated about, and responsive to, present and historical injustices, particularly the impact of systemic racism on SRH. Adopting the SRHE framework should drive work to interrogate, re-evaluate, and change the policies, programs, and practices that have guided SRH care.
Reform the structure of how contraceptive access work is done to center those most impacted, prioritize inclusivity, and uphold shared equity principles. Funders, researchers, and service providers should engage diverse partners early, such as patient partners, community-based organizations, and those who do adjacent work (e.g., doulas). This includes compensating participants and equitably dividing resources and funding among partner organizations.