Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg Releases "Report on Reproductive Health Services in Montgomery County

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg Releases Report Showing Significant Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Respect to Montgomery Reproductive Health Services
She Will Pursue Task Force to Study Issue and
Make Recommendations to County Executive, County Council

ROCKVILLE, Md., February 4, 2010—Montgomery County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large) said today that the report she has released on reproductive health services highlights the significant racial and ethnic disparities with respect to need for reproductive health services in the County. The report states only one-third of women in the County who qualify for publicly-funded reproductive services actually receive those important services.

The “Report on Reproductive Health Services in Montgomery County” was a collaborative effort of the Montgomery County Reproductive Health Education and Advocacy Work Group, convened by Councilmember Trachtenberg in June 2009. The work group was led and implemented by the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. The principal authors were Susan F. Wood, Amita N. Vyas and Marquita N. Campbell.

The report was released this week by Councilmember Trachtenberg at the 2010 Women’s Legislative Briefing at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville

The study documents a growing need for reproductive health services in Montgomery County and highlights significant racial and ethnic disparities with respect to the need for these services in the County. Although white women comprise 55 percent of the population in Montgomery County, black (25 percent) and Hispanic (22 percent) women are proportionately most in need of publicly supported family planning services.

“Our study clearly illustrates a pressing public policy need to examine the complex issues surrounding teen pregnancy in Montgomery County, and elsewhere, particularly as it affects women of color,” said Councilmember Trachtenberg, who is a member of the County Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. “As a County, we should look closely at how we can reduce teen pregnancy and how we better provide support and services for those in need.”

Councilmember Trachtenberg’s office is currently drafting a Council resolution to establish a task force to investigate the issue and to make recommendations to the County Executive and the County Council.

To view the complete report, click here.
To view the complete press release, click here.