Strict Abortion Policies Lead to Worse Health Outcomes for Women in the Southeastern US: A Report by The Commonwealth Fund

Boston, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States United States of America
Maternal mortality rates are higher in areas with restrictive abortion policies, particularly within the Mississippi Delta region which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Medical students are deterred from applying for residency programs in states with restrictive abortion policies, leading to a shortage of maternity care providers and further exacerbating health disparities.
Mississippi ranked lowest among all states for women's health due to its strict abortion laws and lack of access to reproductive healthcare services.
States with restrictive abortion policies had lower scores overall for women's health care according to a report by The Commonwealth Fund.
Ten states have not expanded their Medicaid programs, leaving approximately 800,000 women uninsured.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 led to significant changes in women's access to healthcare, particularly in states with strict abortion policies.
Women living in Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma had the highest rates of being uninsured among all US states. Additionally, these states have seen an increase in preventable causes of death such as syphilis and substance use disorders overdoses since 2019.
Strict Abortion Policies Lead to Worse Health Outcomes for Women in the Southeastern US: A Report by The Commonwealth Fund

The Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 has led to significant changes in women's access to healthcare, particularly in states with strict abortion policies. According to a report by The Commonwealth Fund, these changes have resulted in worse health outcomes for women living in affected areas, often located in the Southeastern United States.

The report analyzed more than a dozen measures of women's health care and found that states with restrictive abortion policies had lower scores overall. For instance, Mississippi ranked lowest among all states for women's health due to its strict abortion laws and lack of access to reproductive healthcare services.

One major consequence of these restrictions is the decrease in the number of OB/GYNs available in affected areas. A survey found that medical students are deterred from applying for residency programs in states with restrictive abortion policies, leading to a shortage of maternity care providers and further exacerbating health disparities.

The report also highlighted the importance of expanding Medicaid coverage as a means to improve women's health outcomes. Ten states have not expanded their Medicaid programs, leaving approximately 800,000 women uninsured. These states except for Wisconsin ranked below average in women's health overall.

Women living in Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma had the highest rates of being uninsured among all US states. Additionally, these states have seen an increase in preventable causes of death such as syphilis and substance use disorders overdoses since 2019.

Maternal mortality rates are also higher in areas with restrictive abortion policies, particularly within the Mississippi Delta region which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Vermont, California, and Connecticut have the lowest maternal death rates among all states.

It is crucial to note that these disparities are not limited to reproductive health issues. Women's overall health outcomes are affected by a combination of factors including access to healthcare services and socioeconomic conditions. It is essential for policymakers and healthcare providers to address these underlying issues in order to improve women's health outcomes nationwide.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Are there any studies or data that directly link the overturning of Roe v. Wade to the changes in women's health outcomes?
  • Is it accurate to say that all states with restrictive abortion policies have lower scores for women's health overall?
  • What specific factors contribute to Mississippi having the lowest score for women's health among all states?

Sources

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Women living in states with strict abortion policies have worse health outcomes

NBC News Digital Thursday, 18 July 2024 15:48
  • Unique Points
    • The chances that a woman can see a doctor while pregnant have fallen significantly since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
    • Women living in states with a history of health disparities are affected the most by these changes, often found in the Southeast.
    • These women are not only less likely to be able to afford a doctor's appointment; they're less likely to be able to find an OB/GYN in their area.
    • The report looked at more than a dozen measures of women's health care, including maternal mortality, preterm birth and postpartum depression, in all 50 states in 2022.
  • Accuracy
    • In the 21 states that ban or restrict abortion access, the single action significantly altered both access to reproductive health care services and how providers are able to treat pregnancy complications.
    • Expanding Medicaid coverage is linked with lower maternal mortality rates and broader use of reproductive health care services.
    • Women in Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma had the highest rates of being uninsured.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

These are the states that rank highest and lowest for women’s health in new report

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jacqueline Howard, Thursday, 18 July 2024 04:01
  • Unique Points
    • The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation focused on health issues, released a report analyzing women’s health in the US.
    • Massachusetts had the highest score for women’s health overall.
    • Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire followed Massachusetts in the top five states for women’s health.
    • Mississippi had the lowest score overall for women’s health.
    • Expanding Medicaid coverage is linked with lower maternal mortality rates and broader use of reproductive health care services.
    • Ten states have not expanded Medicaid, leaving about 800,0 women uninsured. Each of those states except for Wisconsin ranked below average in women’s health.
    • Women in Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma had the highest rates of being uninsured.
  • Accuracy
    • Massachusetts had the highest score for women’s health overall.
    • Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire followed Massachusetts in the top five states for women’s health.
    • Mississippi had the lowest score overall for women’s health.
    • Expanding Medicaid coverage is linked with lower maternal mortality rates and broader use of reproductive health care services.
    • Ten states have not expanded Medicaid, leaving about 800,00 women uninsured. Each of those states except for Wisconsin ranked below average in women’s health.
    • Women in Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma had the highest rates of being uninsured.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Maternal Deaths Were Highest in States That Restrict Abortion

Bloomberg News Now Sophia Vahanvaty Thursday, 18 July 2024 15:50
  • Unique Points
    • In some US states with severe abortion restrictions, women were more than twice as likely to die in or around childbirth compared to those with greater access.
    • Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma and other states that enacted abortion bans after the Supreme Court’s June 2022 Dobbs decision were among the worst across 32 measures on women’s health.
  • Accuracy
    • The Commonwealth Fund report focused on data collected in 2021 and 2022.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

New Report Shows Worsening Health Outcomes for Women in States With Abortion Bans

American Journal of Managed Care Giuliana Grossi Thursday, 18 July 2024 15:52
  • Unique Points
    • The report reveals disparities in women's health and reproductive care across the United States.
    • Abortion restrictions often result in fewer maternity care providers, leading to higher maternal mortality rates, especially within the Mississippi Delta region.
    • Women of reproductive age in Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma have the highest uninsured rates while those in Massachusetts; Washington, DC; and Vermont have the lowest.
    • Nearly all states have seen an upward trend in syphilis infections among women of reproductive age since 2019. The highest rates are found in South Dakota, New Mexico, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
    • Maternal death rates are highest in the Mississippi Delta region which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
    • Vermont, California and Connecticut have the lowest maternal death rates.
  • Accuracy
    • The Commonwealth Fund scorecard ranks Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, and Oklahoma among the poorest-performing states overall for women’s health care access, quality, and outcomes.
    • Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island rank at the top for women’s health care access, quality, and outcomes according to the Commonwealth Fund scorecard.
    • The report reveals disparities in women’s health and reproductive care across the United States.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication