While the federal health care reform law passed in 2010 will make substantive and important improvements, many of us will struggle to get the health care that we need. Access alone, however, does not guarantee the care we receive will be medically and culturally appropriate or even effective. In order to increase the quality of care, we need to learn how to navigate the health care system maze. This complex task is somewhat easier when we understand medical insurance and health care options, have access to care providers we trust, and know how to find accurate and up-to-date health information. This chapter addresses some of the social, political, and economic factors that affect our health and the quality of the care we receive and focuses on what we can do as individuals to get good reproductive and sexual health care. For additional information on the broader factors that affect our health, see Chapter 26, “The Politics of Women’s Health.” DETERMINING WHEN WE NEED HEALTH CARE We regularly make decisions that affect our health: every day we make choices like whether to fasten a seatbelt, use a condom, or have a cigarette.
What do You think about Our Bodies, Ourselves (2011)?
