The June 24, 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade has brought increased attention to the importance of pregnancy and parenting support services for people across the country, especially those living in states where abortion is prohibited or severely restricted. now recognized. . Previous research has found that across states with restrictive abortion laws, there are fewer policies and programs that provide medical and social support to families and children. The 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey surveyed U.S. women of reproductive age (ages 18-49) to assess how easy or difficult it is for them to access various services important to women’s and family health. They were asked to rate whether they felt that they were. This analysis focuses on women with children under 5 years of age. Because they are more likely to have recent first-hand experience with many of the services important to pregnant women and parents, such as maternity care, Medicaid coverage, food stamps, contraceptive services, and affordable child care. . A consistent pattern across this analysis is that in states that ban or restrict abortion, a higher proportion of women with young children report difficulty accessing pregnancy-related services and child care assistance. be.
Key findings:
Maternity care: Even before the Dobbs decision, there were concerns about hospital and maternity ward closures and labor shortages, with current estimates suggesting that more than 5 million women of reproductive age will have no or few obstetric providers. He is known to live in the county. Since Roe’s ouster, some initial studies have shown that fewer medical students are applying for residency positions in states where abortion is prohibited, and that obstetricians and gynecologists are applying for residency positions in states where abortion is prohibited. There are also anecdotes that workers are leaving states where they live, potentially exacerbating the long-standing labor shortage. Nationally, more than a quarter (28%) of women of reproductive age with young children say it is very or somewhat difficult to obtain obstetric care in their state, according to the KFF survey. (Figure 1). In states where abortion is prohibited or restricted to the first six weeks of pregnancy, one in three women (34%) with young children report that women in those states are unable to receive obstetric services. They say it is difficult, which is higher than women living in states where abortion is allowed. Abortion after 24 weeks (23%).
Medicaid: Medicaid is an important source of coverage for low-income women, covering four out of every 10 births in the country. One-third (32%) of women with young children say it is very or somewhat difficult for women in their state to get Medicaid coverage (Figure 2).
Four in ten women (41%) live in states where abortion is prohibited or limited to the first trimester, compared to fewer than one in four women (23%) in states where abortion is prohibited. compared to women in their state who say it is difficult to receive Medicaid. Generally available. Of the 10 states that have not adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion, seven also have abortion bans or six-week gestation limits.
Food stamps: Nationally, 4 in 10 women with young children say it is difficult for women in their state to receive food stamps (Figure 3). Food stamps, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provide financial assistance for groceries to low-income individuals who meet state income and resource requirements. The average monthly SNAP household benefit in 2019 ranges from $183 to $457 and varies by state. However, half (48%) of women with young children live in states with abortion bans or early pregnancy restrictions, compared with 3 in 10 women living in states where abortion is generally available. said it is difficult to receive food stamps.
Contraceptive services: One in eight (13%) women with young children say it is difficult for women in their state to access contraceptive services (Figure 4). In states where abortion is prohibited or limited to the first trimester, one in five women (19%) with young children say they have difficulty accessing contraceptive services, which is because abortion is common. Twice as many (9%) women live in states where it is practiced. Available. A study conducted after the Dobbs ruling found that pharmacies in states with abortion bans were dispensing fewer oral contraceptives and emergency contraceptives.
Childcare: Nationally, the majority of women with young children (72%) say affordable childcare is difficult to access in their state, and regardless of their state’s abortion policy, it can be a significant This stands out as a challenge (Figure 5). Median annual child care costs per child range from $5,357 to $17,171, with infant child care costs even higher and varying by state. The issue gained attention during this year’s presidential campaign and remains a challenge for most parents of young children, regardless of where they live.
Methodology The 2024 KFF Women’s Health Study was designed and analyzed by KFF women’s health researchers. The survey was conducted online and by phone from May 13 to June 18, 2024 among a nationally representative sample of 6,246 adults ages 18 to 64, including 3,901 women ages 18 to 49. It was done. The findings in this overview are based on 1,053 women between the ages of 18 and 49. 49 people said they currently had at least one child under the age of 5 living in their household. Women include those who have selected female as their gender, or those who have identified themselves as non-binary transgender or another gender and have chosen to answer a series of questions for women about sexual and reproductive health. Included. Download: Toplines and Methodology.
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