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Reproductive Health Program
The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health leads Louisiana’s reproductive health program. The Bureau provides resources and services for individuals regarding their sexual and reproductive health.
This program aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality, morbidity and teen pregnancy by providing sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, patient-centered contraceptive counseling, access to a wide range of contraceptive methods and information on sexual and reproductive health.
Program Goal
To reduce maternal and infant mortality, morbidity and teen pregnancy, and to provide individuals and families the information and means to exercise personal choice in determining the number and spacing of their children.
Purpose
The purpose of the program is to help clients:
- Delay pregnancy beyond the teen years to improve mothers' and infants' socioeconomic status and health.
- Reduce the negative impact of unintended pregnancies on individuals, families and the community.
- Plan pregnancies so all children are planned, wanted and born healthy.
- Access reproductive health services such as pap smears, sexually transmitted infections screenings and physical exams.
Services
- Physical exam, including pap smears and clinical breast exams
- Referrals for mammograms and abnormal pap smears
- Reproductive health counseling and education
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Testing for HIV/AIDS and linkages to care
- Pregnancy testing
- Tubal Ligation, vasectomy and sterilization counseling, education and referrals
- Provision of medications or supplies
- Telehealth
- Preconception and interconception health counseling
- Basic infertility services and counseling
- Community outreach
- Education and information
The federal government provides funding for these services under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. The program has operated as part of the National Title X Family Planning Program for more than 40 years. Title X is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services.
Intervention Strategies
The Bureau of Family Health uses the following intervention strategies:
- Provide individuals with the information and means to determine the number and spacing of their children.
- Provide community education about issues related to family planning, especially to parents and youth-serving agencies.
- Increase opportunities for health assessment and intervention in areas such as STIs, nutrition, social services, chronic diseases and immunizations.
Resources
There are many resources available for teens, which offers information on sexual and reproductive health, contraception counseling and teen pregnancy.
- Tulane Adolescent Drop-In Center: Tulane’s drop-in center improves the quality of life of homeless youth in the areas of primary health care and substance abuse, mental health, case management and outreach services.
- Office of Adolescent Health: This office focuses on how adolescents develop and the issues they may face as they mature.
- National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (via the Power to Decide) evaluates the Let’s Talk Birth Control (Let’s Talk) intervention.
- Medicare: Provide basics on how Medicare works and how to sign up or review your options for more coverage.
- Medicaid: Medicaid provides medical benefits to low-income individuals and families.
- Family Assistance: The Administration for Children and Families works to promote the economic and social well-being of children, families and communities.
- Healthcare Resources and Services Administration: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)provides health care to the nation’s highest-need communities. Their programs support people with low incomes, HIV, pregnant women, children, parents, rural communities, transplant patients and the health workforce.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Information: Provides prevention statistics and vaccination recommendations.
- Power to Decide—Teen Talk: Learn about adolescent well-being for all sexual and reproductive advancements.
- Girlup.org: Girl-centered leadership development initiatives that focus on developing girls into transformative leaders who advance gender justice worldwide.
- Girls Health: Find out more on how to start your self-care journey through relationship advice, sexually transmitted infection protection, psychological safety and nutrition.
Women can access information on sexual and reproductive health, breast self-awareness and sexually transmitted infections before and during pregnancy.
- Breast Self-Awareness Card (English): Know your risk for breast cancer, get screened, know what is normal for you and make healthy lifestyle choices.
- Pap Tests: Pap smears and HPV testing to look for cancers and precancers in the cervix.
- Fertility Out Loud: Resources and guidance for the fertility journey.
- CDC Women's Reproductive Health: Data to better understand the extent of maternal and infant morbidity, behaviors and conditions that can affect reproductive health.
- Information on Reproductive Rights: Provides accurate and up-to-date information about access to and coverage of reproductive health care rights and resources.
- Information about Congenital Syphilis: Learn how to reduce the risk of getting syphilis before and during your pregnancy.
Helpful Websites
- HealthyChoicesLA.org: Information and resources related to sexual and reproductive health, including a directory of reproductive health clinics, information on birth control methods and links to health insurance coverage options.
- Women's Right to Know: Information and resources related to women’s rights, including adoption, medical care and assistance, abortion and human trafficking.
- Clinic Locator Tool: People looking for reproductive health services can find their nearest family planning clinic through the Office of Population Affairs.
Find data resources and technical information about trauma-informed care services for the community.
- Abortion Alternatives Hotline: 866-729-1788: Provides a directory to services and resources to help women and families through pregnancy, childbirth and more.
- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network: Provides strategies that can reduce the risk or give individuals the confidence to step up to prevent a sexual assault.
- Guttmacher Institute: Investigates major developments in sexual and reproductive health on the State Legislation Tracker.
- Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LAFASA): Promotes autonomy and self-determination and support a survivor’s informed decisions.
- Louisiana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS): Data can be used and disseminated to assess existing public health programs, modify existing programs and monitor progress toward state health goals.
- Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs: Invests in the implementation of effective teen pregnancy prevention programs and provides funding to develop and evaluate new or innovative approaches to prevent teen pregnancy.
- National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association: Advances and elevates the importance of family planning providers and administrators.
- Birth Control Guidance: Explore birth control options, compare methods and find out how to get birth control online.