Barriers to Routine Gynecological Care in Young Adult Females in the United States
Introduction: Well-woman exams (WWEs) are important preventive health care; however, many do not regularly receive these exams. Understanding barriers to timely care is important in improving health care delivery and health outcomes. Methods: We conducted a panel survey of 1000 U.S. females 18–30 ye...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mary Ann Liebert
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Women's Health Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2025.0015 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: Well-woman exams (WWEs) are important preventive health care; however, many do not regularly receive these exams. Understanding barriers to timely care is important in improving health care delivery and health outcomes. Methods: We conducted a panel survey of 1000 U.S. females 18–30 years of age. Barriers to gynecological care were assessed in four domains: financial, practical, procedural, and health care provider related. Differences between groups were assessed using t-test and analysis of variance, and logistic regression was used to examine the association between barriers and delayed care. Results: Respondents were on an average 24.5 years old and the majority were White, non-Hispanic (63%). Respondents were categorized by WWE screening status: never screened (24%), delayed screening (>1 year) (30%), and on-time screening (46%). Those who had delayed WWE expressed higher practical, procedural, and provider barriers compared with those with on-time exams. After adjusting for other barrier types and sociodemographic characteristics, lack of insurance was associated with more than twice the odds of delayed WWE (odds ratio [OR]: 2.61 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41–4.92) and a one-point increase in the provider barriers mean scale was associated with nearly 60% increased odds (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.16–2.17) of having delayed WWE. Conclusions: The patient experience with the health care provider, along with insurance coverage, is significantly associated with delayed WWE. These results indicate that in the presence of insurance coverage, providers have a significant role in creating an environment that supports the timeliness of WWE in young adult patients. |
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| ISSN: | 2688-4844 |