Native American Women Lack Access to “Plan B” Contraception

A report by the Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center says women living on Native American reservations face major obstacles to accessing Plan B emergency contraception. Close to one in three Native women will be raped in her lifetime, and report authors say unwanted pregnancies could be prevented if Plan B was available over-the-counter. The report also criticizes the Indian Health Service for not implementing standard policies and protocols dealing with sexual assault and rape despite being mandated to do so by the Tribal Law and Order Act. The co-author of the report, Charon Asetoyer, is executive director of the Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center.