Reproductive Health / Public News Service

Washington state fared better than most states at preventing infant mortality. (Thanumporn/Adobe Stock)

Racial Disparities Add to Tragedy of Infant Mortality Rates

September brings attention to an unfortunate and painful issue: infant deaths in the United States. This month is Infant Mortality Awareness Month…

In a new poll from the group A Better Wisconsin Together, 66% of Wisconsin voters say they would rather see the Legislature prioritize education rather than seek the possible impeachment of a liberal state Supreme Court justice. (Adobe Stock)

New Poll: Most Voters Oppose Impeaching WI Supreme Court Justice

Following last spring's election, where Wisconsin voted in a liberal justice to the state Supreme Court, Republican leaders are further exploring a …

In 2012, candidates took 7%, on average, of all their out-of-state money from ideologically-driven donors. But in the 2022 election cycle, ideological donors typically made up 13% of the out-of-state donor pool, according to Open Secrets. (Adobe Stock)

Local and State Politics Grow Increasingly 'Nationalized'

Political candidates running for federal office have grown increasingly reliant on out-of-state donations, according to a new report. Government …

More than 22 states have imposed bans or restrictions on abortion, with Idaho enacting a law prohibiting the transport of minors across state lines for abortion care. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Challenges AL Threats to Criminalize Out-of-State Abortion Aid

A lawsuit has been filed against the Alabama Attorney General over what plaintiffs call "threats to criminalize" those who aid individuals who go out-…

The Right Time initiative conducted an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents between April 27 and May 3. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Is Birth Control Legal? Many Missourians Unsure

One in four Missourians either doesn't believe or doesn't know that using birth control pills is legal in the state. The Right Time, an initiative …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says one in five people reports mistreatment while receiving maternity care. Mistreatment is reported most often by Black, Hispanic and multiracial moms, and those with public health insurance or no insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Pregnant Patients of Color Report Mistreatment by Medical Providers

A new study finds that people of color often experience different treatment during and after their pregnancy than do their white counterparts in encou…

Maternal mortality rates in the United States showed an alarming increase from 2018 to 2021, which highlights the preventable nature of over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths, according to the CDC. (Pixabay)

CDC Reports Mistreatment of Patients by Maternity Care Providers

People from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have negative experiences during pregnancy and delivery affecting the quality of…

The CDC reported Maternal death rates in the United States rose from 2018 to 2021, noting more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. (Adobe Stock)

CDC: 1 in 5 Women in IL, US Report Mistreatment During Maternity Care

Women from some racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to have negative health care experiences during pregnancy and delivery affecting qua…

In Ohio, 13 of 88 counties are maternity-care deserts, affecting approximately 97,000 women, according to data provided by March of Dimes. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Maternity Care Becoming Harder for Ohioans to Access, Experts Say

By Leah Shepard / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. In Ohio, 13 of 88 counties …

The first ever FDA approved over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive is called Opill. (Adobe Stock)

NV Advocates Discuss Access to Birth Control

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., recently met with reproductive-rights advocates to discuss the need to ensure all Nevada women have access to …

Around 34% of Americans, a near record high, say abortion should be legal in all cases, according to a recent Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on State's Abortion Trigger Ban

Tomorrow, the Utah Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in relation to the ongoing lawsuit against Senate Bill 174. Commonly known as the "trigger …

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs case last year sent abortion rights to states to decide. (Heidi/Adobe Stock)

Legal Challenges Bog Down Idaho's Abortion Travel Ban

An Idaho law banning interstate travel for abortion care to people under age 18 is facing legal challenges. This week, a federal judge barred …

Only 38% of U.S. women between ages 13 and 44 live in a state supportive of abortion rights, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (goodluz/AdobeStock)

NM Abortion Hotline Stays Busy; Medical Residents Seek Training

New Mexico has developed a two-pronged approach to safeguard access to abortion: offering an information hotline and instruction to medical residents …

People speaking up for reproductive rights claim calls by Republican attorneys general, for law enforcement to still have access to medical records for out-of-state abortion care, not only want it to pursue potential criminal investigations but also to scare women from seeking abortions. (Adobe Stock)

Concern Lingers Over Privacy Rule Opposition Regarding Abortion Care

Civil rights advocates in North Dakota hope the federal government keeps pursuing plans to expand privacy protections for patients seeking out-of-stat…

In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

WV Sees 'Alarming' Black Infant, Maternal Mortality Rates

In West Virginia, babies of Black mothers are dying at higher rates in childbirth compared to white infants - and experts say the lack of access to …

Rates of severe maternal morbidity for people with disabilities -- including intellectual, vision, and mobility-related disabilities -- were found to be significantly higher between 2011 and 2020 than those for people without disabilities, according to the Department of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Report Shows Steep Decline in MA Maternal Health

Racial and gender inequities in Massachusetts have contributed to a steep decline in maternal health, according to a new report. The Department of …

While some states require licensing, Texas doulas can offer physical, emotional and informational support to their clients without a certification. (AntonioDiaz/AdobeStock)

As Costs Escalate, Texas Increases Nonmedical Maternal Health Care

Texas is recognizing maternal health care is not just about doctor's visits, with a new law taking effect this fall to enhance screening for …

States that have implemented abortion bans saw a drop in the number of abortions, from an estimated 7,500 in Apr. 2022 to fewer than 10 abortions per month after Aug. 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU of Iowa Critical of Reynolds' Special Session on Abortion

Gov. Kim Reynolds has called the Iowa Legislature back to Des Moines for a special session tomorrow to focus solely on abortion policy. The Iowa …

Indiana House Bill 1015 allows the state to use cameras to capture and ticket drivers speeding through highway construction zones when workers are present. (Adobe Stock)

Hundreds of New Indiana Laws Start This Weekend

More than 250 new laws take effect Saturday in Indiana. They range from legalizing the ninja weapons known as throwing stars, to creating a 25-foot …

In the past four decades, 29 out of 54 counties in Alabama have lost providers of hospital obstetric care, according to a report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Expanding Medicaid Means Better Maternal Health Care in AL

Alabama has the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the country, and some new research reinforces the view that expanding Medicaid could be the …

The average cost of center-based child care for a toddler in 2021 was nearly $9,000 in Texas, which is 9% of the median income of a couple and 28% of a single parent's income, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Lament 'Missed Opportunities' by TX Lawmakers

A child advocacy group in Texas is already looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session, after several policy changes it supported this year failed …

Currently, 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Vows to Block Abortion Restrictions; Reynolds: 'Fight not Over'

Civil liberties advocates in Iowa are vowing to fend off any new legislation to restrict abortion in the state. The Iowa Supreme Court recently …

Earlier this month, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., joined their Senate colleagues to reintroduce the Right to Contraception Act. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed AZ Bill Could Codify Birth Control Access

Days prior to the first anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, announced plans to introduce …

DeSantis made an appearance at the annual Basque Fry event on Saturday in Gardnerville, hosted by former Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt. (Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons)

NV, FL Progressive Leaders Wary After DeSantis' NV Visit

Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis visited Nevada and spoke at a fundraising event in Adam LaxaltGardnerville over the …

Wisconsin is among the handful of states that have yet to formally adopt expanded postpartum health coverage through Medicaid. So far, nearly 40 states have done so. (Adobe Stock)

WI Budget: Renewed Push to Include Expanded Postpartum Health Care

Wisconsin policymakers have less than a month to adopt a new state budget. Advocates for extending postpartum health coverage through Medicaid hope …

Nebraska was one of 10 states to further restrict abortion access in the 2023 legislative session. At least 48 bills were passed involving restrictions for LGBTQ+ individuals. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Plaintiffs Speak Out in Suit Against Controversial New NE Law

A new Nebraska law is now the subject of a lawsuit filed in the District Court of Lancaster County. In its amended form, Legislative Bill 574 …

Either the Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokia or Dr. Caitlin Bernard can appeal the Indiana Medical Licensing Board's decision in Marion County Superior Court. (Adobe Stock)

Board Fines Indiana Doc for Speaking about 10-Year-Old's Abortion

An Indiana licensing board has fined a local physician $3,000 and handed her a letter of reprimand after she went public about a 10-year-old Ohio pati…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls well-child visits

Contentious 2023 MO Legislative Session Saw Wins for Struggling Families

Although Missouri's 2023 legislative session was contentious and resulted in a historically low number of bills being passed, advocates for children …

Nineteen states have passed laws banning or restricted abortion since the overturning of Roe versus Wade in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

In Ohio, Abortion Rights Fuel Fight Over Ballot Measures

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends every woman get a well-woman checkup once a year. (Adobe Stock)

Health Experts to Women: Put Your Personal Health on the Front Burner

As Women's Health Week continues, experts in Wisconsin and elsewhere are reminding women to prioritize their well-being. The Centers for Disease …

Beyond extending postnatal health coverage, some health leaders say improving paid-leave benefits can help address health complications that pregnant women can face, such as an elevated risk for stroke. (Adobe Stock)

A Spotlight on Stroke Risks for Pregnant Women

Research has emerged about the link between pregnancy complications and a higher risk of stroke, and a Wisconsin health expert suggested it is a risk …

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2022 Women's Health Survey, 21% of women, including 38% of uninsured women, said it is difficult to find a doctor who can explain things so they are easy to understand. (Adobe Stock)

NY Works to Improve Women’s Health

This week is National Women's Health Week, and New York is taking steps to improve women's health. The New York state Legislature has passed …

Nationwide, 543 anti-trans bills have been introduced since the start of the 2023 legislative session. So far, 70 have passed. (James Reininger/Adobe Stock)

NE Legislature Faces One Bill Restricting Two Personal Health Care Decisions

This week the Nebraska Legislature will consider a bill containing the two most controversial issues of the 2023 session: restrictions on medical trea…

Florida's new six-week abortion limit is contingent on the outcome of a Florida Supreme Court case about the privacy clause in the Constitution. Until then, the state's current 15-week abortion ban remains in place. (Pixabay)

New Campaign for Florida Voters to Decide on Abortion Protections

Arguing politicians should never be able to force a person to carry a pregnancy against their will, a coalition of abortion rights groups is now …

Gov. Jay Inlsee has signed a slate of bills passed by lawmakers protecting access to abortions in Washington state. (CrackerClips/Adobe Stock)

After Legislative Session, WA Leads Nation in Protections for Abortion

Washington state lawmakers have passed some of the strongest protections for abortion access in the country. With another session in the books…

Women of color, both in Indiana and nationally, experience higher rates of stillborn births and infant mortality. Experts say there are multiple factors, including stress and economic, racial and gender discrimination. (Adobe Stock)

IN Minority Health Coalition Works to Lower Infant Mortality Rates

Indiana ranks eighth in the country for stillbirth and infant mortality numbers, as many counties lack access to obstetric care. One out of every 16…

By federal law, all states provide Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related services to pregnant women with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level and cover them up to 60 days postpartum, according to KFF. Missouri lawmakers are considering expanding these services to cover a year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push for More Postpartum Healthcare Funding

Healthcare advocates in Missouri are urging support for a measure that would expand health care services for new mothers on Medicaid. Senate Bill 45…

Reproductive-Rights Supporters See Path to Victory: Letting Voters Decide

By Belle Taylor-McGhee for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, more than 50 countries have

Faith Leaders On Nebraska's LB 626, Religious Freedom and Maternal Care

Identifying as a person of faith is not synonymous with supporting Legislative Bill 626, the six-week abortion ban bill in the Nebraska legislature…

Democratic lawmakers are calling for term limits to ensure each president has the opportunity to appoint the same number of Supreme Court justices each term, in an effort to make the high court more democratically representative. (Adobe Stock)

MA Lawmakers Call for Expansion of U.S. Supreme Court

Massachusetts lawmakers in Congress are calling for an expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court due to what they said are "ethical lapses" and "partisan …

In Texas, abortion is completely banned with very limited exceptions. This forces patients to make two trips out of state, one for in-person counseling and another at least 24 hours later for the abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Showdown Over Abortion Medication Continues

The battle over a prescription drug used in abortions continues, now to be heard by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 17. The pill…

In Maine, an estimated 92% of abortions occur by the 12th week of pregnancy, with nearly 70% occurring before nine weeks. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are rare, representing 1% of abortions in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

ME Medical Community Reaffirms Support for Abortion Medication

Maine's medical community is applauding the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. The justices …

In North Dakota, opponents of a proposed abortion ban which cleared the Legislature said anti-abortion politicians are trying to control women's bodies and lives. Supporters contend they are trying to protect the unborn. (Adobe Stock)

As Court Case Plays Out, ND Lawmakers Approve Abortion Ban

North Dakota has been steeped in a legal challenge to the state's trigger ban on abortions, which is currently blocked. Now, the Legislature has …

Recognizing urgent maternal warning signs, providing timely treatment, and delivering respectful, quality care can prevent many pregnancy-related deaths. (Adobe Stock)

Drilling Down Into Social Factors Linked to Unequal Health Outcomes

Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women, even though more than eight in 10 pregnancy-related deaths are …

Gender affirming care can improve the mental health of young people. (AngelHerrezuelo/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Supports Trans Youth as Attacks Across US Increase

As legislation across the country targets transgender people, Washington state lawmakers are moving in the opposite direction. The Legislature …

The abortion drug mifepristone remains available in 19 states, including Illinois, while a pair of federal rulings are heard by a federal appeals court. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood IL: Abortion Pill Ruling a 'Political Stunt'

Women's health groups in Illinois and across the country are angered by a pair of federal court rulings last week on the abortion drug mifepristone…

Health care advocates fear restrictions on abortion medication could be especially harmful to African American women, who are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (ACLU Mass.)

MA Lawmakers Vow to Protect Abortion Medication Access

Massachusetts lawmakers are vowing to protect access to the abortion drug mifepristone, after two competing rulings by federal judges has left access …

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, many states have passed near-total bans on abortion, with some states criminalizing the procedure and those who assist others in obtaining one. (traci1/Adobe Stock)

Dueling Opinions Likely to Send Abortion Issue to U.S. Supreme Court

Access to medication abortion will be front and center this week after two competing court rulings, in Texas and Washington, were handed down Friday…

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