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Vienna: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Vienna night.jpg|400px | thumb|right|]] | [[File:Vienna night.jpg|400px | thumb|right|]] | ||
Like many Western European countries, Austria provides a relatively progressive health care environment. You can find a wide range of contraceptives, such as birth control pills, condoms, IUDs, birth control shots, birth control rings, birth control patches, and birth control injectables. However, most contraceptive methods require a prescription, which can either be administered by a health care professional in Austria or abroad. You can also get free contraceptive counseling at Pro:Woman, a health organization that focuses on sexual and reproductive health care. Furthermore, you can obtain emergency contraceptive pills (the morning after pill) without a prescription at pharmacies or clinics. You will need to pay out-of-pocket, as ECPs are not reimbursed by the Austrian health care system. | |||
Regarding sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), you can receive free HIV tests from voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics. For other STI tests, you may need to pay a fee, but costs can certainly vary. There are a wide range of services and organizations that help people who are being tested for STIs or are currently living with STIs, and there is an HIV support hotline you can call (details in the "Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)" section. It's also important to note that, if you're a foreigner, you will not be deported if you test positive for HIV in Austria. Also, you can find Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in Austria. | |||
There are many hospitals, clinics, and initiatives related to women's health and autonomy in Austria. If you would like to visit a gynecologist, please visit the "Gynecological Exams" section on this page for local recommendations. If you are pregnant and employed in Austria, you are entitled to maternity leave, and you can also take parental leave. Finally, regarding abortion law in Austria, it is legally permitted and available upon request if it is performed before the 16th week of pregnancy. | |||
Generally speaking, Austria provides many resources for women, but there are still improvements to be made. Homosexuality is legal, homosexual civil union are recognized, changing gender is legal, and there are legal protections for LGBTQI people related to housing discrimination. However, there are only laws against employment discrimination related to sexual orientation (not to gender identity).<ref>[http://www.equaldex.com/region/austria Equaldex - LGBT Rights in Austria]</ref> Furthermore, the gender pay gap in Austria is among the highest in the European Union, and NGO research has found a lack of feminist issues covered in mainstream Austrian media.<ref>[https://www.genderindex.org/country/austria/ GenderIndex - Austria]</ref> | |||
'''OVERVIEW''' | '''OVERVIEW''' | ||
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In Austria, you can obtain condoms, spermicide or various sprays without a prescription. However, for most forms of birth control, especially for hormonal or long-lasting methods, such as contraceptive pills or IUDs, you need a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability World Map]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> <ref>The Hague Forum, 8 to 12 February 1999: Austrian National Report]</ref> You can get a contraceptive prescription from a gynecologist. Once you do have a prescription, you can obtain contraceptives at a variety of venues, such as from a physician, clinic or pharmacy. | In Austria, you can obtain condoms, spermicide or various sprays without a prescription. However, for most forms of birth control, especially for hormonal or long-lasting methods, such as contraceptive pills or IUDs, you need a prescription.<ref>[http://ocsotc.org/wp-content/uploads/worldmap/worldmap.html Global Oral Contraception Availability World Map]</ref> <ref>[http://freethepill.org/where-on-earth/ Free the Pill: Where on Earth]</ref> <ref>The Hague Forum, 8 to 12 February 1999: Austrian National Report]</ref> You can get a contraceptive prescription from a gynecologist. Once you do have a prescription, you can obtain contraceptives at a variety of venues, such as from a physician, clinic or pharmacy. | ||
According to a 2015 United Nations report, it was found that about 68% of Austrian women (who were of reproductive age and married/in unions) used any form of contraception, including traditional methods. This rate was roughly similar to the Western European regional average for contraceptive use (70%) for 2015. The most common contraceptive methods for Austrian women were found to be birth control pills (23%), IUDs (15%), and male condoms (14%). While some couples opted for sterilization, the rates were lower (6% for women and 4% for men). There were especially low rates of usage for contraceptive injectables (2%), contraceptive implants (1%), and the vaginal barrier method (less than 1%). Traditional methods were also used at a very low rate, such as the rhythm method (2%) and withdrawal (less than 1%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> | According to a 2015 United Nations report, it was found that about 68% of Austrian women (who were of reproductive age and married/in unions) used any form of contraception, including traditional methods. This rate was roughly similar to the Western European regional average for contraceptive use (70%) for 2015. Furthermore, it was found that a median 10% of women had unmet family planning needs (slightly higher than the Western European average at 9%). The most common contraceptive methods for Austrian women were found to be birth control pills (23%), IUDs (15%), and male condoms (14%). While some couples opted for sterilization, the rates were lower (6% for women and 4% for men). There were especially low rates of usage for contraceptive injectables (2%), contraceptive implants (1%), and the vaginal barrier method (less than 1%). Traditional methods were also used at a very low rate, such as the rhythm method (2%) and withdrawal (less than 1%).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> | ||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In | In Austria, pregnant employees are entitled to a protection period, also known as "Mutterschutz," which entitles them to at least 16 weeks of maternity leave (8 weeks before the birth and 8 weeks after the birth). During this period, they are entitled to a maternity allowance ("Wochengeld," in German), which should be about equivalent to their salaries. Freelance contractors also receive maternity allowance. Furthermore, mothers and fathers are entitled to take a parental leave period until the child reaches 24 months old. The minimum amount of time for parental leave is 2 months. During this time, childcare allowance ("Kinderbetreuungsgeld," in German) is allowed, and parents have five types of childcare allowance models to choose from.<ref>[https://www.migration.gv.at/en/living-and-working-in-austria/working/leave-annual-leave-parental-leave-etc/ Leave (annual leave, parental leave etc.)]</ref> | ||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
Austria has enacted gender-sensitive legislation related to domestic violence, stalking, rape, sexual abuse, and female genital mutilation. Under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2001, the rape and sexual abuse of minors is punished by life imprisonment. Furthermore, rape (including spousal rape) is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.<ref>[https://www.wikigender.org/countries/europe-and-central-asia/gender-equality-in-austria/ WikiGender - Austria]</ref> <ref>[https://www.genderindex.org/country/austria/ Gender Index: Austria]</ref> For details on laws related to women's autonomy and safety in Austria, click [https://www.genderindex.org/country/austria/ here]. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||