Planned Parenthood a Winner of Microsoft Healthvault's Facebook Video Contest

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014

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As a leader in expanding access to reproductive health information online, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today proudly announced two awards from Microsoft HealthVault for video submissions in the Health is Wealth Video contest on Facebook.

The contest objective was to create videos that drive awareness about the importance of organizing health records online through HealthVault.

The two winning videos created by Planned Parenthood supporters were designed to raise awareness of the availability of reproductive health care and information online. Among all of the video submissions to the Microsoft contest, PPFA’s received a first runner-up grant  and a participation grant, both totaling $5,100 which will be reinvested into the production of online client education content.

“Using video and digital technology, Planned Parenthood is expanding access to reproductive health care and information to combat the epidemic rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections for women, men, and teenagers,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards.  “Through the Internet, we are reaching new audiences with honest, comprehensive, medically accurate health information needed to keep them healthy and safe.”

Planned Parenthood award winners from Microsoft’s video contest are Katharine Smith, who created a video about the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) and the importance of obtaining regular Pap tests, and Willa Marth, whose video is about the HPV vaccine.

A recent Harris poll found that 160 million Americans get health care information online, and Planned Parenthood is working to ensure they are able to find the reproductive health information they need. To help achieve that goal, PPFA launched three new interactive tools — My Method, The Check, and Locate — that provide unique and very specific health information online directly to the approximately 13 million women, men, and young adults a year who visit our website for reproductive health care information. In June of last year, PPFA also worked with Microsoft HealthVault to create a My Method vault that allows users to save and revisit their results so they can track how their contraceptive needs and preferences change over time.

PPFA made these online tools available at a time when the need for increased access to quality, affordable reproductive health care couldn’t be more critical.  There are multiple reports indicating that more women are seeking contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy during the current economic downturn.  The U.S. currently leads the most developed countries in the world in the number of teenage pregnancies — an estimated 724,000 teenagers will become pregnant this year, and it is estimated that one in two sexually active people under the age of 25 will contract a sexually transmitted infection.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.