Birth Control Saves Women's Lives

Meeting the global need for contraception could cut maternal mortality by
an additional 29%.

Family planning prevents maternal deaths due to pregnancy complications
(including unsafe abortion, which accounts for 13% of maternal deaths
worldwide). Each year, 50 million women seek pregnancy termination, which
remains illegal and unsafe in many countries. To estimate the effect of
satisfying the unmet need for contraception, information from the Maternal
Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group database, the UN World
Contraceptive Use 2010 database, and the UN World Population Prospects 2010
database was used to model maternal deaths averted by contraceptive use in
172 countries. The researchers then modeled the number of additional
maternal deaths that could be averted if the global need for contraception
were met.

These models estimate that the current level of contraceptive use averted
272,040 premature maternal deaths worldwide in 2008. Without contraceptive
use, maternal mortality would have been 1.8 times higher. The models also
suggest that satisfying the unmet need for contraception could prevent an
additional 104,000 maternal deaths annually, a 29% reduction from the
current rate.

Comment: Although many people have long recognized family planning as a
cornerstone of global health and development, international commitment to
funding for these essential health services has remained limited. This is
unfortunate, as investments in contraception are estimated to save up to
US$7 for every dollar invested (Am J Public Health 2009; 99:446). As
Melinda Gates has said, there should be "no controversy in contraception."

-- Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS

Published in Journal Watch Women's Health August 16, 2012 Citation(s):

Ahmed S et al. Maternal deaths averted by contraceptive use: An analysis of
172 countries. Lancet 2012 Jul 14; 380:111. 

More on the GOP Platform

GOP approves platform banning abortion, gay marriages

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Republicans emphatically approved a toughly worded party platform at their national convention Tuesday that would ban all abortions and gay marriages, reshape Medicare into a voucher-like program and cut taxes...

The party states that "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It opposes using public revenues to promote or perform abortion or to fund organizations that perform or advocate abortions. It says the party will not fund or subsidize health care that includes abortion coverage...

The platform pledges to move both Medicare and Medicaid away from "the current unsustainable defined-benefit entitlement model to a fiscally sound defined-contribution model." It supports a Medicare transition to a premium-support model with an income-adjusted contribution toward a health plan of the enrollee's choice. Age eligibility in Medicare must be made more realistic in light of longer life spans.

Medicaid services for low income people would be transformed into a block grant program in which the states would be given the flexibility to determine the best programs for their residents...

It states that a Republican president on his first day in office would use his waiver authority to halt progress in carrying out the health care act pushed through by President Barack Obama and that Republican victories in November would guarantee that the act is never implemented. It proposes a Republican plan based on improving health care quality and lowering costs and a system that promotes the free market and gives consumers more choice...

It says Republicans renew their call for replacing family planning programs for teens "with abstinence education which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of behavior."

Six Ways The GOP Platform Is Bad News For Women's Bottom Lineby Bryce Covert (Forbes.com)

1. Repealing ObamaCare (ObamaCare creates gender equity, provides for access to contraception, among other things)

2. Controlling Your Fertility (disallows women to make decisions for selves)

3. “Reforming” Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security (Social Security is the only income for app. 1/3 of women over 65 - The GOP plan puts many women at risk)

4. More welfare reform (c. 90% adult beneficiaries of TANF are women)

5. Reducing government payrolls, including teachers

6. Single mothers = bad   (no help - just vilification)

See article for more details

From Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana

Stay energized and involved! Check out some upcoming events! See the complete calendar Protest Against Mitt Romney and Budget Cuts Who's on the Chopping Block? Veterans? Workers? Retirees? Students? All of them and add women, families, and animals to that chopping block....we all need to run for our lives and head out to protest the Romney/Ryan Budget Cuts.

Mitt Romney is speaking at the Indianapolis Convention Center on Wednesday. Lets show Romney that Hoosiers don't believe in the budget cuts he's proposing & he isn't the key to rebuilding America or the Middle Class. Indiana Convention Center (Corner of Capitol & Maryland), Indianapolis IN Wednesday, August 29 2:30-3:30pm RSVP at the event page

51% Club Phone Bank Hundreds of thousands of Hoosier women who voted in the 2008 Democratic Primary did not vote in 2010. It is the goal of the 51% Club to bring those women back to the polls this November. Help us reach them. Join us for our weekly Marion County phone bank. 2601 East 46th St. Indianapolis, IN 46205 Wednesdays, from 5:30-8pm RSVP to Katie Blair at 51percent@indems.org

Miracle Mile Festival  Join us in honoring Hoosier legends at the Miracle Mile Festival! Madison Avenue, Indianapolis IN Saturday, September 1 11am-3pm RSVP to Katie Blair at 51percent@indems.org

Indiana AIDS Walk This year's Indiana AIDS Walk will be a "Walk Around the Block," a roughly one-mile walk through beautiful Herron Morton Place neighborhood, with entertainment and activities along the route. First 200 walkers get free BBQ! Must be over 21 or older to enter. 16th & Alabama St, Indianapolis IN Saturday, September 29 4-7pm Register here! If you are an advocate who wants to be more involved, contact advocates@ppin.org for volunteer opportunities!

Republicans alienating women with their cluelessness

Rep. Todd Akin, (R-MO) Senate Candidate from Missouri told a local television station that “legitimate rape” rarely produces pregnancy because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Akin cited conversations with unnamed doctors for the bizarre claim. 

Tom Smith, a Tea Party-endorsed candidate running against Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania suggested that having a child out of wedlock (from a positive relationship) was analogous to having a child from a rape.

Paul Ryan, (R-WI) Vice presidential candidate, says that he believes that rape is just another “method of conception” and not an excuse to allow abortions.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), co-sponsored a bill with Akin that sought to restrict federal assistance to rape victims unless they suffered what Akin and Ryan called “forcible rape.” 

Clearly these men do not take rape seriously. Their laws would give rapists control over a woman and her body - not just for however long the rape lasts - but potentially for the next 9 months, and the rest of her life. And they have stupid ideas about some rapes being more "legitimate" than others.

 GOP Approves ‘Most Conservative Platform In Modern History’

Including:

• NO ABORTION IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST. The proposal for a “human life amendment” passed without a hitch — and without any exceptions for rape or incest. The committee didn’t stop there; they also adopted language that would ban drugs that end pregnancy after conception, which could potentially include Plan B, the “morning after pill.”
• SALUTE TO MANDATORY ULTRASOUNDS. The GOP officially praises states’ “informed consent” laws that force women to undergo unnecessary procedures, require waiting periods and endure other measures meant to discourage them from getting an abortion. One such law receiving a “salute” was crafted by committee head McDonnell, who passed a notorious mandatory ultrasound requirement after he signed an unsuccessful bill to require an even more invasive transvaginal probe ultrasound during an abortion consultation.

Republicans at all levels of government are a problem for women, and everyone who has to live with their policies.

Legitimate Rape (Video) by the Renegade Raging Grannies

http://youtu.be/Anc_gP2_QeI

"The Renegade Raging Grannies let Todd Akin know what they think of his Neanderthal concepts about how women's bodies work. See full lyrics at www.raginggrannies.net"

"Young Women are Watching in 2012"

This is a great short video from Planned Parenthood Action Fund.  Watch it.  You'll like it.