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  • Title: The health of women and contraception in Quebec.
    Author: Menard F.
    Journal: IPPF Eur Reg Inf; 1984 Apr; 13(1):18-20. PubMed ID: 12178356.
    Abstract:
    In the Autumn of 1982, the +quebec +family Planning Federation undertook a household survey to determine what aspects of health were of interest to Quebec women's groups. The survey revealed that almost all groups working on women's health are involved with contraception. The subject was on the agenda of several groups and was conceived within the terms of self help and independence. At this time the contraceptive "ovule" Pharmatex made a dramatic appearance on the Quebec market. Launched as a miracle product, it seemed to meet the demands of a large number of Quebec women, who abandoned their oral contraceptives (OCs) and replaced them with the cagitory. The FQPN was urged to comment on this event from all quarters. The survey undertaken on the ovule showed the way in which thoughts had developed. In fact, the work on self help in health, which emphasizes women's independence, necessitated a review of the fundamental principles as regards birth control. Since these 2 events, an attempt has been made to analyze the situation in order to redefine the matter of family planning. The existence of free, public clinic services does not solve the problems of contraception for women. The medical attitude in these places remains totally traditional. The contraceptive methiods they recommend often are ones requiring medical intervention: OCs, IUD, sterilization. The doctor retains his/her powers of persuasion, not to say authority to decise and tends to favor a contraceptive over which he/she has control. Women's dependence on the medical systems is therefore total. In addition, a growing number of Quebec women are disenchanted with particular forms of contraception. The OC and IUD effects on their health disturb them and they want a "softer" contraceptive--one where the doctor's power diminished as the women's increases. As women feel isolated and helpless in the face of these new needs, there is a need to group togerther to find things out and to support one another. To meet these needs certain realities related to family planning were considered. Several factors, both objective and subjective, are involved in the choice of contraceptive: physical and mental health and other aspects, i.e., access to all types of contraception, ease of use of the methods, the quality of the information available, and effectiveness. The challenge is to learn to reconcile women's need for information concerning new departures in contraception, to provide support on the steps they may want to take on their own behalf, and to respect their choice and their direction even if it is diametrically opposed to the Federation's. The last 2 years devoted to consideration of the self help aspect of health and the independence of women offer the necessary tools with which to review contraception in a new light.
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