Fear of a high maternal mortality rate – for sad reasons

United States of America

It is considered the land of freedom: the United States of America. Although now it must be said that they are considered a land of freedom. Because even if big cities like Los Angeles or New York City celebrate diversity and their residents can develop freely, this does not apply to all states and big cities in the USA.

For example, organizations advocating for PoC or LGBTQIA+ rights issued travel warnings for the state of Florida this spring. The reason: Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hometown is too unsafe for minorities. The social climate is hostile.

But it’s not just members of marginalized groups in the United States who fear for their physical safety, but also at least 1.78 million women of reproductive age.

Abortion bans are matched by poor prenatal care

evaluation Letters of News Boston Children’s Hospital concludes that about 1.78 million women of reproductive age do not have the opportunity to legally terminate unwanted pregnancies – but at the same time there is also a lack of access to maternity care.

The reasons for this are the laws applied in their American states and the poor state of medical care in the counties concerned. If the circle were expanded to include those who are not permitted to have an abortion and have only “limited access” to maternity care, approximately 3.7 million women would be affected.

Conversely, this means that women in these areas of the USA must continue their pregnancies to term – even if they become unintentionally pregnant or their health is threatened as a result. They do not receive specialized medical care, support or treatment.

Therefore, experts fear a high maternal mortality rate in the United States of America. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy.

In research, these areas in the United States of America are called “double deserts.” Desert meaning thirsty – there are hardly any oases, any clinics that help women. The regions were identified by comparing data from the charity March of Dimes on the health care status of expectant mothers with data on abortion options.

The station quoted Julia Strasser, assistant professor of health policy and management at George Washington University, as saying:

Women in Texas, Mississippi and Kentucky are the most affected. In Strasser’s view, abortions and care for expectant mothers have a lot to do with each other. Because: The same medical skills are necessary to treat miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies as they are in miscarriages.

Eugene DeClercq, a professor of community health sciences at Boston University and an expert on maternal mortality, also told the radio station that banning abortion could make the situation worse. Obstetricians can then leave the respective states. For example, in Idaho Many hospitals closed their delivery rooms after the abortion ban took effect.