[452] ‘MTSU On the Record’ considers social effects of ‘morning-after pill’

MURFREESBORO — The next edition of the “MTSU On the Record” radio program will look at the accessibility of emergency birth control.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Karen Mulligan, an associate professor of economics, will air from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, May 11, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, May 17, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org).

Mulligan’s study, published in the academic journal “Health Economics,” analyzed the impact of the Food and Drug Administration’s 2006 decision to make emergency birth control, sometimes referred to as the “morning-after pill,” accessible over the counter.

Using statistics from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and state health data bases, Mulligan analyzed the impact of readily available morning-after pills on abortion rates and sexually transmittable diseases.

“Obviously, when I set out to do this, I was very agnostic,” said Mulligan. “I didn’t have any expectations … and the main finding is that, as a result of providing over-the-counter access to emergency birth control, the STD rates are increasing. And this is for all age groups. We don’t see any impact on abortion rates.”

To listen to previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to http://www.mtsunews.com/ontherecord/.

For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.