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Ethics, Ideology, and Reproductive Health Policy in the United States
Author(s) -
Kulczycki Andrzej
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
studies in family planning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1728-4465
pISSN - 0039-3665
DOI - 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2007.00145.x
Subject(s) - reproductive health , sexual and reproductive health and rights , abortion , ideology , reproductive rights , public health , health policy , political science , economic growth , presidential election , population , family planning , condom , medicine , politics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , law , environmental health , health care , nursing , family medicine , pregnancy , syphilis , biology , economics , research methodology , genetics
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo recognized the centrality of reproductive health to human rights and development. Progress on the Cairo agenda has slowed for numerous reasons, however. The United States, once an enthusiastic promoter of this agenda and still the world's leading reproductive health donor, has revised its reproductive health policies radically since the 2000 presidential election of George W. Bush. This study examines how policies have been reconfigured in five key reproductive health areas, sparking controversy both in the United States and internationally. These categories are the content of sex education, access to emergency contraception and to abortion services, condom effectiveness, and HIV/AIDS prevention. The analysis presented here elucidates how ideological considerations have superseded public health and ethical concerns and reflects on health and ethical consequences.