Prior family planning experiences of obese women seeking abortion care.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of obesity among women of reproductive age calls for research focused on strategies that ensure obese women receive high-quality reproductive health care. This study adds to this literature on service delivery by exploring obese women's experiences receiving or avoiding family planning care.


METHODS
We included 651 women seeking abortion care who completed iPad surveys about their previous family planning experiences.


RESULTS
One quarter were classified as obese, with almost 5% morbidly obese. Only 1% of obese women reported avoiding family planning care. More than 12% of morbidly obese women reported not having their family planning needs met (Pap smears, sexually transmitted infection testing, or ultrasonography). This is compared with only 2% among overweight and obese women and 0% among normal and underweight women. Almost 10% of obese and morbidly obese women reported that at least one of the previous family planning clinics they had visited was not prepared to provide care for heavier women and around 25% of obese women reported at least one item in the clinic (such as blood pressure cuffs and examination gowns) was not adequate for their size.


RESULTS
Contrary to expectations, we did not find that obese women avoided family planning care. However, morbidly obese women reported not having all of their family planning needs met when they attended care. Family planning providers should ensure that their facilities have the capacity to meet the family planning needs of obese women and that they have adequate equipment to care for this population of women.
Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Electronic address: natalie.ingraham@gmail.com.
Natalie
N
Ingraham
Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, California.
Sarah C M
SC
Roberts
Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, California.
Tracy A
TA
Weitz
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult