The Vital Signs Index Survey: No. 1

• Topline

This issue update provides information on the process of making emergency contraception available without a prescription. It includes sections on how a drug becomes availible without a prescription;, the over-the counter-debate; implications for cost and use; and safety and efficacy.

• Issue Update

Public Knowledge and Attitudes About HIV/AIDS

The Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2000, a nationally representative survey of teens ages 12-17, is designed to assess attitudes and knowledge about the epidemic among a generation at risk. The survey, released just prior to World AIDS Day, documents teen perspectives about the impact of the epidemic on young people and their own personal concern about becoming infected. It also includes findings about where teens get their information about HIV/AIDS, their information needs, and attitudes toward HIV testing. Key findings include: greater levels of concern expressed by minority teens; many teens would not know where to go get tested for HIV; and teens want more information about HIV/AIDS.

• Issue Brief

The debate over whether women should be able to get “the pill” without a prescription has been going on quietly for years. Now, some women’s health advocates are asking if emergency contraception, birth control that can be used to prevent pregnancy after sex, should be available over-the-counter. The reason? While new emergency contraceptive products are now on the market, many U.S. women still don’t know about them. And, even if they do, they might not be able to get emergency contraception from their doctors – in time for it to make a difference.

A panel of experts, including Carolyn Westhoff, MD, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Public Health, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center; James Trussell, PhD, Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Faculty Associate, Office of Population Research, Princeton University; Rod MacKenzie, Chariman of the Board, Gynetics; and Julia Scott, RN, President & CEO, National Black Women’s Health Project discussed at an Emerging Issues in Reproductive Health Briefing the over-the-counter debate, what’s happening in doctor’s offices, and what could tomorrow bring for emergency contraception and the pill.

New survey findings about how frequently doctors are counseling women about emergency contraception and prescribing this method was released.

• Agenda
• Resource List
• Biographies

• Survey Snapshot
• Toplines
• Fact Sheet
• Issue Brief
• Vital Signs Survey: Public on Emergency Contraception 

Third National Survey of Women’s Health Care Providers on Reproductive Health

This national survey of women’s health care providers on reproductive health includes data on prescribing practices and discussion of contraceptive counseling, as well as demographic information.

• Survey Snapshot: Women’s Health Care Providers Experiences with Emergency Contraception
• Toplines: National Survey of Women’s Health Care Providers on Reproductive Health: Emergency Contraception

A Survey and Analysis of What States Are Doing

Based on interviews of state officials and analysis of tv, radio, and print ads from the states, this report is the first nationwide analysis of states’ advertising campaigns to enroll eligible kids into health coverage programs. Included is information about how states developed their campaigns and the common messages states are trying to convey about their coverage programs.

Report (.pdf)

The Washington Post/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University national survey on “” is the fourth in a series of surveys examining policy issues in the 2000 national elections. This survey, conducted October 12 – 19, 2000, of a nationally representative sample of registered voters also included an oversample of “Economy” registered voters. This survey and all surveys in this series, are designed to provide a more in-depth look at the attitudes of issue-oriented voters and compare them to registered voters in general. Results from this survey were released by The Washington Post in October, 2000.

• Toplines

A new side-by-side examination of California’s Medicaid program (Medi-Cal) and CHIP program (Healthy Families) shows how these two low-income health coverage programs differ in structure, eligibility, enrollment process, service delivery and scope. This California case study helps to illustrate differences between Medicaid and CHIP.

The White House released a new report entitled Youth and HIV/AIDS 2000: A New American Agenda, which highlights the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on young people. Half of all new HIV infections are estimated to occur among young people under the age of 25. The Kaiser Family Foundation released preliminary findings from a new national survey of teens on HIV/AIDS. Most teens say HIV/AIDS is a serious problem they are personally concerned about. But more than two thirds wouldn’t know where to go to get tested. A report on the complete survey will be released later this year.

• Preliminary Findings

HIV/AIDS care is financed by multiple sources in the United States, yet many people with HIV/AIDS face barriers in accessing care. This issue brief, created for the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Capitol Hill Briefing Series on HIV/AIDS, provides an overview of how HIV/AIDS care is financed, including a discussion of spending, programs, and policy changes. Information about the series, and materials from each briefing, including a link to view a webcast of the event, can be found on the Capitol Hill Briefing Series on HIV/AIDS page.

Issue Brief (.pdf)