Idea to use vouchers to increase access to contraception and prevent youth pregnancies with Pass’contraception initiative in high schools
The issue of high teenage pregnancies throughout France (about six thousand young girls each year with 455 girls in 2007 in one region of France alone) remains critical and the regional government decided it can no longer be ignored. Moreover, nearly one in ten women having an abortion is young. Field workers, health professionals and professional associations acknowledge the continuing difficulties in gaining access to free contraceptive services that are both confidential and close by.
After extensive consultations with teacher trade unions, parents and school leaders associations, several regions of France now want to develop a voucher initiative to promote access to contraception in high schools. In addition to interventions already adopted by the family planning centers and the education departments, the Pass’contraception seems to be the practical tool to ensure confidential free contraceptive services to young and adolescent girls in poor regions.
This action, taken in conjunction with the Health Professionals College Councils proposes to make the “Pass’contraception” voucher available to school nurses and social workers to hand out to adolescent women in high school in need of free reproductive health services and contraceptives.
