Alabama’s health care system for women ranks near the bottom of this new scorecard

 1640170747 
1688371200
In this stock image, a pregnant Black woman holds her stomach.

In this stock image, a pregnant Black woman holds her stomach.

Photo courtesy of Neo Latricia for CreateHER Stock

The Commonwealth Fund has a new category in its annual scorecard of state health systems — reproductive and women’s health care.

The scorecard looks deeper at 12 new measures that evaluate and rank states on maternal and pregnancy-related outcomes, as well as women’s access to reproductive services and other care.

Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana rank near the bottom in the report — released June 22 — with marked increases in preventable deaths, high uninsured rates and more preterm births across all three states. 

Maternal deaths nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic played a big role. The increase was especially high among Black and Indigenous mothers already impacted by poverty and poor access to maternal health care.

Louisiana, which ranked 38th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, saw an increase in its maternal morbidity rate between 2018 and 2020, and it did not improve in any of the key areas researchers examined.

In Alabama, which ranked 43rd, the infant mortality rate remained higher than the U.S. average but the state did improve its access to prenatal care. 

Mississippi ranked second to last in reproductive and women’s health, with worsening rates of death for women of reproductive age, postpartum medical visits, and deaths from preventable and treatable causes. Mississippi also continues to have the highest rate of infant mortality in the country.

The report uses data from before and after Roe v. Wade was overturned, and notes that most of the states that ranked lowest in reproductive care and women’s health have some of the strictest abortion bans. These states — including Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana have fewer maternity care providers, and more women of color and their babies are dying. 

The researchers recommended that states can work to improve poor reproductive outcomes, suggesting policies like extending postpartum Medicaid, funding community-based organizations and more.

You can read the full scorecard report here

This story was produced by the Gulf States Newsroom, a collaboration between Mississippi Public BroadcastingWBHM in Alabama, WWNOand WRKF in Louisiana and NPR. Support for reproductive health coverage comes from The Commonwealth Fund, but the news and the business departments operate independently.

 

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea by apparent "friendly fire", the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Party City files for bankruptcy and plans to shutter nationwide

Party City was once unmatched in its vast selection of affordable celebration goods. But over the years, competition stacked up at Walmart, Target, Spirit Halloween, and especially Amazon.

Sudan’s biggest refugee camp was already struck with famine. Now it’s being shelled

The siege, blamed on the Rapid Support Forces, has sparked a new humanitarian catastrophe and marks an alarming turning point in the Darfur region, already overrun by violence.

FDA approves weight loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea

The FDA said studies have shown that by aiding weight loss, Zepbound improves sleep apnea symptoms in some patients.

Netflix is dreaming of a glitch-free Christmas with 2 major NFL games set

It comes weeks after Netflix's attempt to broadcast live boxing between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was rife with technical glitches.

Big dreams: He’s the founder of a leading African photobook library

Paul Ninson had an old-school, newfangled dream: a modern library devoted to photobooks showing life on the continent. He maxed out his credit cards, injured his back — and made it happen.

More Front Page Coverage