Report: 31% of Women Face Barriers to Ireland's Free Contraception Scheme
A report by the National Women’s Council and Trinity College Dublin found 31% of women face barriers to Ireland's free contraception scheme. Migrant women, Travellers, LGBTQ+ individuals, and disabled women are particularly affected by issues like lack of awareness and inaccessible services. Calls are being made to remove eligibility restrictions and improve healthcare inclusivity.
A new report reveals that almost one in three women faces barriers to accessing Ireland's free contraception scheme, launched in September 2022. The scheme, initially for ages 17-25 and later expanded to 17-35, aims to remove financial hurdles to reproductive healthcare and reduce crisis pregnancies, covering various contraceptive forms.
The research, conducted by the National Women’s Council and Trinity College Dublin, sampled 500 women. It found that 31% experienced difficulties due to issues like lack of knowledge, age, inability to access a GP, and intrusive questioning. Migrant women, LGBTQ+ individuals, Travellers, and people with disabilities disproportionately struggle to use the service.
Specific barriers include low awareness among migrant women, lack of accessible information for disabled women, and cultural beliefs affecting Traveller and migrant communities. Traveller women also reported discomfort discussing contraception with male GPs and low trust in the health system. The report highlights negative attitudes from some healthcare providers towards marginalized groups.
Dr. Leigh-Ann Sweeney of Trinity College Dublin noted significant gaps, with women over 35, asylum seekers, and undocumented women ineligible. Corrinne Hasson of the National Women’s Council called for the removal of all eligibility requirements, information in multiple languages and accessible formats, and gender-sensitivity training for healthcare services.