Addressing Unintended Pregnancy Through Culturally Sensitive Care

By Talya Meyers

At Marison joseph’s women’s healthcare practice, many patients seeking family planning services are already mothers – or expecting mothers.It’s a common scenario.

“They just had a baby last year…they’re stressed, it’s a lot of work at home,” she explained. “When you see a patient like this, you think, ‘Would they benefit from long-term birth control? We can place it and they don’t have to worry about it.'”

For Joseph, a nurse practitioner at Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida, helping women access the right contraceptive care is more than a job – it’s a health justice issue. She believes everyone deserves informed choices.

“We can reduce unintended pregnancies. patients get the birth control they want,they understand their options,and they’re empowered,” she said. “The goal is to promote health and wellness for women.”

Healthcare Network,a federally qualified health center in Collier County,Florida,primarily serves rural patients. Many have low health literacy, speak Spanish or Haitian Creole, or require culturally sensitive care. It’s a diverse patient base with unique needs.

“A lot of our patients have strong cultural and religious beliefs,” Joseph said. misinformation from family, friends, or social media is also common. She finds that asking,”why dose that concern you? What information do you need?” helps uncover the root of their concerns and provides an opportunity for accurate education.

Joseph’s Haitian heritage is a valuable asset. it helps her build trust with patients who are hesitant about medical information. “They feel a sense of safety: ‘You’re Haitian, you speak Creole,'” she said.

Healthcare Network actively reaches patients of reproductive age (15 to 44) with accurate information about contraception and family planning. They aim to prevent unwanted pregnancies and help patients achieve their desired reproductive outcomes. The centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 45% of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, disproportionately affecting those with lower education and income, people of color, and young adults.

To expand the health center’s ability to provide culturally appropriate, non-stigmatizing, and accurate contraceptive care, Direct Relief has designated them one of four awardees for the 2025 Community Health Awards: Locally-driven Approaches to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy.

These awards, funded by women’s health company organon, provide four $200,000 awards over two years to nonprofit partners focused on preventing unintended pregnancies in vulnerable populations. Each awardee offers contraceptive services and education in under-resourced communities.