Medicaid as a woman's issue: A conflict of values

One hundred and thirteen recipients of Medicaid participated in 24 groups throughout Kansas to determine their values in establishing priorities for the use of health care resources. Three themes emerged when the data were examined from a woman-centered perspective: (a) children as the first priority, (b) self-reliance of the patient and family, and (c) the clash of values inherent in the previous two themes. This article argues that women in the secondary labor market will be unable to reconcile this conflict until additional supports are available for day care and the medical needs of children.