“But I Wasn't Told To”: Lack of Education and Workplace Policy as Barriers in the Provision of Family Planning Information

Abstract

Access to family planning has been identified as critical to public health. Improving the linkage between medical and social services could result in improved access to care for those most at risk of unintended pregnancy. This study used a survey based on Alfred Bandura's social cognitive theory (1986) to increase the understanding of the barriers social workers confront in the provision of family planning information to clients. Although moral disagreement with family planning presented a barrier for some, workplace policy, participation in family planning trainings, and working in an urban setting were of greater value in understanding barriers.

Keywords::

• Family planning
• contraception
• unintended pregnancy
• adolescent pregnancy
• social cognitive theory
• workplace policy
• continuing education
• social work ethics
• public health
• social work