In addition to family planning services, the WHP offers preventive health screening services. For many women, the periodic family planning visit may be their only point of contact for preventive care and screening. An analysis of patients at family planning centers found that the majority (62%) considered the center their usual source of care and that poor (73%) and uninsured (75%) women were even more likely to depend on the centers as their usual source of care. 22 If cancer, diabetes, hypertension or sexually transmitted infections are not detected early, these diseases may become more severe and lead to death.
