This project investigates contraceptive access within the complex legal landscapes of North Carolina and Virginia through in-depth case studies examining how state-level laws are designed, implemented, and experienced. The selection of these states leverages our established collaborative relationships with clinicians and reproductive health policy experts. While focused on two states, the research utilizes structured analysis methods, including an Excel-based database with detailed summaries coded by thematic categories, to identify patterns applicable to other state contexts. This systematic approach ensures findings will provide insights relevant to national discussions and contribute to more effective reproductive health policies.
This research hypothesizes that institutional policies and provider practices—both independently and through their interactions with federal and state law—significantly impact access to contraceptive services but remain poorly documented. These institutional factors create challenges and opportunities that fundamentally shape individual experiences and contraception access. This will also examine how tension between supportive state contraceptive laws and restrictive federal policies affects various populations’ ability to access contraceptive services, especially low-income individuals, rural communities, and other vulnerable groups.
The project combines comprehensive legal and policy review with interviews of clinicians and administrators to capture individual-level experiences and identify barriers and facilitators to contraceptive access, particularly for marginalized populations. Findings will be synthesized into actionable recommendations for policymakers and clinicians to improve clinical practice and health service delivery. By considering institutional and provider influences, the project seeks to inform public policy and enhance equity in reproductive health services locally and nationally.