For this project we chose to visit the A Women's Place located on BruceB Downs. We chose this location for multiple reasons. To begin with this place is located in a central area, very accessible to the community. This facility offers a variety of services but what stands out most about this facility is the opportunity to receive free pregnancy testing as well as free ultrasound upon pregnancy. What we found interesting about this facility is how they advertise their free services. Open advertisement such as this allows for passerby's to be informed of services offered without having to enter the building. Some women are nervous or scared to go to medical offices and ask about services offered, so advertisements like these can be very comforting. When inside A woman's Place staff are welcoming and encouraging, they also take the time to educate the patient on stages of pregnancy, and options out there if one finds out they are expecting. The staff counsels the patient on healthy sexual practices,the use of contraception, and gives out informational booklets that helps with decision making. This is considered public health to us because the community is provided with a place that woman can go to if they are panicking or feeling like they could possibly be pregnant. This office is located is in an area dominated by hospitals,walk in clinics and other medical offices that are busy, and crowded. A Woman's Place is intimate, private and personal. Its important for the community to have places like this because some woman cant afford to have a pregnancy test done by a physician or pay for an ultrasound. Some woman also have the fear of taking a store bought pregnancy test wrong, so this place is considered refuge at a time where one is in the unknown. The services provided at A Woman's Place is also very important because it keeps the patient aware of what is going on in her body,whether or not a life is growing inside her. Once the patient is aware better care can be taken of herself, and the growing baby. If the woman is not pregnant the outcome of not being pregnant can provide relief and provoke action towards healthier or smarter sexual practices.
This is such a perfect example of a place that represents what public health is all about! Pre-natal care is so important for both mother and baby and it is great that they offer these services for free so that women who might not normally have access to them can gain vital knowledge for a healthy pregnancy. It is good to see that we have organizations like A Women's Place educating and servicing our community.
ReplyDeleteYou guys picked a perfect public health example. I wouldn't have thought of it as public health at first - so great job! It's defintely a very important place in our community. So many women, especially young college women may not be able to afford pregnancy tests or ultrasounds, or may be, as you said, afraid/uncomfortable going in to find out if these places can do this kind of thing. These women are able not only to know if they are pregnant but to be educated on proper prenatal health (or proper sexual health if not pregnant) in a safe and welcoming environment. Definitely a good place to have right here in our area.
ReplyDeleteI like this blog post so much because, there are so many women pregnant in the world and cannot afford some of the things necessary for a pregnancy, like vitamins, prenatal care, and many other things. As Public Health majors we know that it is the prevention, and by The Women's Center offering these free services, it helps a lot of women that cannot afford home pregnancy tests, or ultrasounds.Once again this is a perfect example of Public Health I love it!!!
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