Planned Parenthood: more than meets the eye

While the nation watched the the Roe v Wade decision unfold, the danger to other abortion services could unnoticed. Planned Parenthood could be the next target of Conservatives, and eliminating it would do more harm than many realize.

One of the most heated conversations in today's political realm is abortion. One component of abortion and reproductive rights which is often misunderstood is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). This organization, known as Planned Parenthood, provides various sexual healthcare services outside abortions.

The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, combined with some state governments' efforts to limit reproductive healthcare, endangers PPFA and the communities it serves, specifically minorities and low-income women and families. The vast services of PPFA and the groups of women who benefit are critical to understanding the severity of the current abortion rights problem.

On Friday, June 24th, the Supreme Court overturned its decision on Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. This ruling leaves women unprotected, especially in states where abortion has been or will be criminalized. The Supreme Court decision was a significant declaration for the Republican Party regarding pro-life agenda and legislation; however, there have been subtle attacks on abortion access through legislative restrictions on federal funding.

The Family Planning Services and Public Research Act of 1970, often called the Title X Family Planning Program, provides grants and aid for low-income families. Before the Trump Administration, over 4 million Americans relied on Title X to afford family planning clinics like PPFA; however, restrictions imposed by the previous administration cut clinic patient capacities in half. The functions of Planned Parenthood extend farther than the general public knows. As abortion access is already being limited, protecting Planned Parenthood and sexual health clinics is critical to maintaining some hope for the coming generations.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable sexual healthcare to men, women, and children across the country. According to the PPFA website, the organization is also the largest provider of sex education. Furthermore, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the internal advocacy group for reproductive and women's rights in America. The organization was founded in 1916 in Brooklyn, New York, by a nurse named Margret Sanger. Today, more than 600 healthcare centers serve diverse communities across the country.

When people think of Planned Parenthood, their first thought is abortion clinics; however, PPFA offers much more than just abortion services. According to the Planned Parenthood 2019-2020 annual report, abortion services only comprise around 3% of all medical service data. In contrast, 52% of services include STI testing and treatment, and 25% of individuals receive contraceptives from Planned Parenthood clinics. Secondly, a significant function of PPFA is sex education.

PPFA offers in-person and virtual educational services, reaching over 3 million people. 1.1 million people were part of in-person sex education programs through affiliate organizations and 2.55 million users used digital video and online educational sessions. While abortion covers the bases for unwanted pregnancies, PPFA's other services focus on pregnancy prevention through contraceptive means and educational services. Sex education is often disregarded in schools, and Planned Parenthood helps fill the gaps. Furthermore, Planned Parenthood clinics often provide primary and preventative health care to communities with nowhere else to turn. 57% of PPFA clinics are located in rural and medically underserved areas.

The demographic breakdown of people receiving care from Planned Parenthood facilities reinforces America's stark wealth and racial divide. Research conducted by the Guttmacher Institute found that four in ten (41%) patients rely on a family planning clinic as their only source for health care services. Internal PPFA data shows that of patients who report their income, nearly 75% live with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Furthermore, 39% of patients are people of color, with more than 541,000 patients identifying as Latino and nearly 395,000 as Black. While women of color are in the minority in terms of population data, they make up a majority of women receiving abortions. The Kaiser Family Foundation tracks health statistics, and nationwide data shows that 66% of patients receiving abortions are women of color.

Similarly, in states where abortion services are the most at stake, data shows that women of color are impacted the worst. For example, in Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas, data shows that women of color make up anywhere from 56% to 81% of all abortion cases. Racial disparities in healthcare are still an issue at large, endangering the most vulnerable communities. These statistics prove that Planned Parenthood's role in underserved communities is crucial in alleviating the unequal healthcare burden forced on communities of color.

While the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade does not directly cut funding to Planned Parenthood, it paves a clear path for what could be next. Defunding Planned Parenthood poses a public health crisis, and stripping PPFA clinics away from underserved communities could leave individuals without care or treatment. Data shows almost 60% of Planned Parenthood patients access care through federally funded medical programs. Proper healthcare is already hard enough to obtain, yet, defunding PPFA could make it nearly impossible for those under safety net programs like Title X. Furthermore, in 2017, the Guttmacher Institute conducted an analysis and compiled four possible future scenarios that align with anti-abortion policies. In each of the four scenarios where the federal government cut funding in some aspect, data showed that local and other healthcare centers could see caseloads double or triple.

The possibility of any scenario such as this is real, especially with the new Supreme Court ruling. Eliminating Planned Parenthood facilities from vulnerable communities would worsen the already overwhelmed healthcare system. Preserving institutions like Planned Parenthood is key to ensuring abortion rights. Donations to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund aid political action and advocacy, safeguarding the right for women to choose.