FLORENCE — The board of the only health department serving four Northern Kentucky counties may vote to drop out of a federally funded family planning program because of concerns that contraceptives such as birth control pills and IUDs could constitute abortion.

IF YOU GO

• What: Caucus of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Board of Health.     • When: 7 p.m. May 9.     • Where: Hilton Greater Cincinnati Airport (formerly Commonwealth Hilton), 7373 Turfway Road, Florence.     • Purpose: To gather information on the pros and cons of the health department's current family planning program and related women's health and contraceptive issues. Those who want to speak should call Karen Covey at the Northern Kentucky Health Department at (859) 341-4264. An hour will be allotted for comments from the public.     • Written comments: Send written materials through May 20 to the Northern Kentucky Health Department, 610 Medical Village Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017.

        That would leave about 5,000 women in Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Grant counties looking elsewhere for birth control.

        A special meeting has been set for May 9 to review scientific literature on federally approved contraceptives and to hear what the public thinks about the health department's continued participation in Title X, the only nationwide federally funded family planning program.

        Some board members have questioned whether contraceptives such as birth control pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs) can be considered abortifacients, or agents that can cause abortion.

        Addia Wuchner, chairwoman of the board's sexual health education committee, proposed that the board study the issue. She was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

        No vote will be taken on May 9, said Greg Kennedy, chairman of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Board. However, the board could make a decision at its June 19 meeting.

        He said options include eliminating all federal Title X services and associated funding.

        During the past fiscal year, the Northern Kentucky health department received $169,694 in Title X money and served 4,462 women, said Peggy Patterson, health department spokeswoman. Eighty-five percent of those women were at or below federal poverty guidelines.

        If a health department receives Title X money, it's required to offer a choice of contraceptives approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said Dr. Gary Crum, public health director for the health department. However, no client can be forced to accept a particular birth control method.

        “We'll present information to the board on the entire ramifications if they should decide to remove the Title X funds,” Mr. Kennedy said. “We want to make sure the board understands the total financial impact on the health department and how it would affect the services that our constituents have used for years.”

        Part of the purpose of the meeting is to explain how residents of Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Grant counties would be affected should any family planning services be dropped, Mr. Kennedy said.

        “Where are these folks who are uninsured and rely on the health department as a safety net going to go to get these services?” he asked. “Some have said, "Someone else will pick it up.' But for my constituents in Grant County, where would they go to get those services?”

        Success rates of the various birth control methods provided by the health department will be discussed at the May 9 meeting.

        The health department has been considering whether certain contraceptives constitute abortion for some time.

        A year ago, a call to remove birth control pills and other contraceptives from Northern Kentucky's health clinics was taken off a health board agenda at the request of the board member who had proposed requested it.

        The health board voted then to require that any sex education programs the health department offered in area schools promote abstinence until marriage.
       
       

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