Open AccessApproaching 4 Decades of Legislation in the National Family Planning Program: An Analysis of Title X's History From 1970 to 2008
Author(s) -
Cheryl A. Vamos,
Ellen M. Daley,
Kay Perrin,
Charles S. Mahan,
Eric R. Buhi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2011.300202
Subject(s) - legislation , legislature , family planning , legislative history , confidentiality , public administration , political science , politics , law , reproductive rights , reproductive health , family planning policy , thematic analysis , public health , environmental health , medicine , sociology , population , nursing , qualitative research , social science , research methodology
Family planning is an important public health activity. Title X (Pub L No. 91-572), enacted in 1970, remains the only national family planning program in the United States dedicated to providing voluntary and confidential services to all individuals. We conducted a thematic analysis of Title X's legislative history. Of 293 federal bills included in the legislative history, only 20 (6.8%) were enacted into law. Regardless of the proposed challenges, limited changes have been adopted. Except for technical amendments, bills involving restrictions accounted for the highest percentage of enacted bills, demonstrating efforts to undermine reproductive health rights. Title X requires political will and bipartisan support if it is to continue to protect individuals' reproductive rights.