The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has a long-standing commitment to address the problems experienced by women who are underserved in the health care system. Such women might be underserved because of lack of adequate health insurance, lack of access to specific health care services, lack of knowledge on behalf of the provider, and lack of familiarity with the health care system. In 1986, ACOG established The Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. This committee is charged with identifying the problems in access to women's health care, in particular obstetric and gynecologic services, and developing and implementing solutions that involve the College and obstetrician-gynecologists at the national, state and community levels.
For several decades, ACOG has conducted organized activities in the area of health care for underserved women and produced policy statements, committee opinions, educational bulletins and other reports on issues of particular importance to this population. Click here for more detailed descriptions of the document types.
Members can click on underlined titles to view documents. All others can e-mail underserved@acog.org. Use your browser's "back" button to return to this index.
POLICY STATEMENT
- Access to Women's Health Care (1998; revised and reaffirmed 7/06)
- Joint Statement of ACOG/AAP on Human Immunodefiency Virus Screening (7/06)
COMMITTEE OPINIONS
- The Uninsured (#416, September 2008)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Women of Color (#414, August 2008)
- Health Literacy (#391, December 2007)
- Breastfeeding: Maternal and Infant Aspects (#361, February 2007)
- Psychosocial Risk Factors: Perinatal Screening and Intervention (#343, August 2006)
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Women's Health (#317, October 2005)
- Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy (#316, October 2005)
- Health Care for Homeless Women (#312, August 2005)
- Partner Consent for Participation in Women's Reproductive Health Research (#307, December 2004)
SPECIAL ISSUES IN WOMEN’S HEALTH (2005)
Improving Access to Quality Health Care for Women
Patient Communication
Cultural Competency, Sensitivity, and Awareness in the Delivery of Health Care
Special Populations
General Management of Pediatric Gynecology Patients
Access to Reproductive Health Care for Women With Disabilities
Primary Care of Lesbians and Bisexual Women in Obstetric and Gynecologic Practice
Health Care for Transgendered Individuals
Health and Health Care of Incarcerated Adult and Adolescent Females
Special Issues
Substance Use: Obstetric and Gynecologic Implications
Smoking and Women's Health
Intimate Partner Violence and Domestic Violence
Sexual Assault
Adult Manifestations of Childhood Sexual Abuse
PATIENT EDUCATION PAMPHLETS
- Domestic Violence (#AP-083)
- It’s Time to Quit Smoking (#AP-065)
- Depression (#AP-106)
- Alcohol and Women (#AP-068)
OTHER ACOG DOCUMENTS
- Female Genital Cutting: Clinical Management of Circumcised Women (A slide lecture kit) (2008)
- Intimate Partner Violence and Domestic Violence (A slide lecture kit) (2006)
- Health Care for Lesbian & Bisexual Women (A slide lecture kit) (2006)
WHAT CURRENT ACOG POLICY SAYS ABOUT
Access to Women’s Health Care:
“The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the representative organization of physicians who are qualified specialists in providing health services unique to women. ACOG calls for quality health care appropriate to every woman’s needs throughout her life and for assuring that a full array of clinical services be available to women without costly delays or the imposition of geographic, financial, attitudinal or legal barriers.”
Universal Coverage:
“In addition, it is critical that all Americans be provided with adequate and affordable health coverage. Despite economic prosperity and substantial job creation during the 1990s, there remains a considerable and increasing portion of the American population that does not have health insurance coverage. As a result, those individuals often defer obtaining preventive and medical services, jeopardizing the health and well being of themselves and their families. The College supports universal coverage that is designed to improve the individual and collective health of society. Expanding health coverage to all Americans must become a high priority.”
Joint Statement of ACOG/AAP on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening:
“The AAP and the ACOG strongly support efforts to further reduce the rate of perinatal transmission of HIV in the United States. We therefore support the recommendation of the IOM for universal HIV testing with patient notification as a routine component of prenatal care. If a patient declines testing, this should be noted in the medical record. We recognize that current laws in some states may prevent implementation of this recommendation at this time. We encourage our members and Fellows to include counseling as a routine part of care, but not as a prerequisite for, and barrier to, prenatal HIV testing.”