Access to male sexual and reproductive health services in publicly funded California clinics in 2018

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services available to men from publicly funded family planning clinics in California.

Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey in 2018 to compare the accessibility of SRH services for male clients at Planned Parenthood clinics in California to those visiting a random sample of 200 other publicly funded family planning clinics, selected from a California Department of Health Care Services list of 773 that had served at least 15 male clients in the prior year. A representative at each clinic answered questions about provision of 20 clinical services. We examined differences in individual service provision by clinic affiliation using χ² tests.

Results: Only one-third (773/2348) of publicly funded clinics in California served more than 15 male clients each year, with rural clinics less likely than urban counties to do so. We were able to contact 62 of 107 Planned parenthood clinics and 81 of the 200 other publicly-funded family planning clinics that we attempted to reach. Most (95%) offered HIV and STI screening; 65% offered vasectomy consultation, but only 5% provided vasectomy services. Planned Parenthood clinics were more likely than other publicly funded clinics to provide condom demonstrations, emergency contraception, STI testing, HPV vaccination, penile/testicular exams, and infertility testing (p < 0.05 for all comparisons).

Conclusions: Male family planning services are less frequently offered by rural clinics and by publicly funded clinics in California that are not affiliated with Planned Parenthood.

Implications: Men's underutilization of family planning may be partially explained by a lack of access to clinical services.

Keywords: Contraception; Male sexual and reproductive health; Men's health; Vasectomy.