Reproductive Health / Public News Service

Black pregnant and postpartum people in Colorado were 1.9 times more likely to die during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy compared to the state's overall pregnant population, according to analysis of data between 2016 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than overall population

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost for a single cycle of IVF to range from $15,000 to $20,000 and can exceed $30,000 if a donor egg is involved. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

As U.S. Senate votes down IVF bill, MN parent speaks out

A bill to bolster protections for in vitro fertilization treatments failed in the U.S. Senate Tuesday and as the political debate plays out, a …

If you want to register to vote on the same day as the election, you need to have a valid Nevada driver's license or ID card, according to Vote 411. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

NV advocates ready for National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday

National Voter Registration Day is tomorrow, and voting-rights advocates in Nevada want to ensure everyone is set to make their voice heard in …

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, 18 states currently either ban abortion completely or after six weeks of pregnancy. (Adobe Stock)

North Dakota's abortion ban overturned

Abortion care restrictions in North Dakota are expected to be lifted in the near future, following a court ruling on Thursday. A state judge said …

Income, location and trust issues can contribute to health disparities in the Latinx community. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX nonprofits address health disparities in Latino community

Nonprofits across Texas are coming together to address disparities in health care for the Latinx community. A report by the Commonwealth Fund shows …

Food deserts are regions where people have limited access to healthful and affordable food due to income, location, or transportation issues. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

AR officials consider new ways to address food deserts

By Daniel Breen and Josie Lenora for Little Rock Public Radio.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the Little Rock …

Community health workers provide a trust-based relational framework for addressing nonmedical health drivers of health and connecting families to medical resources and social services. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Central Texas nonprofit addresses health inequities for new moms

A program in Georgetown, in Williamson County, is working to improve health outcomes for low-income residents by helping them gain access to …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported social determinants of health prevent many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical and emotional health. (PNW Production/Pexels)

FL advocates highlight philanthropy's role in supporting Black maternal health

While the United States has made strides in improving maternal care, disparities in access to quality health care persist, particularly for Black …

Of the 10 states with abortion ballot initiatives this November, Nebraska's

NE Supreme Court to hear 3 abortion ballot initiative cases Monday

In an unusual set of circumstances, the Nebraska Supreme Court will hear arguments in three lawsuits about the two abortion-related ballot …

More than half of Kentucky's 120 counties lack an OB-GYN, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians recognized for efforts to improve maternal health

The Commonwealth has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, and within the state maternal deaths are twice as high among Black …

According to Planned Parenthood, roughly 4,000 crisis pregnancy centers operate in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Debating ND government's connection to crisis pregnancy centers

Legal disputes still surround North Dakota's abortion ban. Underneath the court activity is the influence of "crisis pregnancy centers" and debate …

Amirah McCree, a Charlotte paralegal, with her family. McCree said nurses rushed her to deliver her second child. (Courtesy Amirah McCree)

NC woman sheds light on medical mistreatment of Black mothers

By Kylie Marsh for the Charlotte Post, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North …

According to the Center for Women and Politics, registered women voters have traditionally outnumbered men by 10 million. In 2022, the number decreased to 7.4 million. (Adobe Stock)

IN women voters expected to outpace men in 2024 election

A Democratic woman of color vies against an embattled former Republican president in this year's historic Nov. 5 election and a new survey of 801 …

More people are traveling farther and across multiple state lines to access abortion care, according to data from the Guttmatcher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

WV voters worried about abortion care, reproductive health access

New polling found an overwhelming majority, 85% of Americans believe abortion access should be allowed in some situations. Two years ago in the …

The poll finds unmarried women are most worried about housing costs (50%), losing rights (46%), and unaffordable taxes (46%), with 57% believing Democrats are more likely to address these issues.(Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Power of unmarried women may shape Ohio's 2024 vote

In Ohio, the upcoming election could hinge on the voting patterns of unmarried women younger than 55, a group that's proving to be a key demographic …

Labor and Delivery doctor Taylor Swartz talks with a pregnant patient and her husband at Mahaska Health Hospital in Iowa. (Tony Leys/KFF Health News)

Shrinking rural Iowa loses maternity units

By Tony Leys for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collabora…

Loss of chemotherapy services can signal other gaps in cancer care, such as a shortage of local specialty physicians and nurses. (N Hiraman/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Rural TX cancer patients face chemotherapy deserts

By Charlotte Huff for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Col…

The group submitted more than 101,000 signatures. If they had all been verified it would have been enough to put the measure on the ballot. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

AR abortion rights advocates say they are not giving up

Now that the Arkansas Supreme Court has denied a petition to put an abortion rights measure on the November ballot, proponents for women's …

According to a 2023 study, culturally tailored breastfeeding education and support could help reduce disparities around race and ethnicity. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates in NC address racial inequities in breastfeeding

Rates of breastfeeding in the U.S. have more than doubled since the mid-2000s but advocates pointed out racial inequities during Black Breastfeeding …

In 2023, 72% of patients at Tennessee's Community Health Centers aged 12 and older were screened for depression and received a follow-up plan, up 7% from 2020. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

TN community health centers see significant growth in patient care

Tennessee's community health centers are vital to the well-being of nearly 428,000 residents, according to new data. The centers must report …

Advocates said Arkansans who lost Medicaid coverage are missing vital doctor's visits. (AnnaStills/Adobe Stock)

Medicaid troubles continue for many AR residents

In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, workers at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families are interviewing Arkansans about their …

About one in eight voters nationwide said abortion is the most important issue this election year, according to a KFF poll. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH Dems counter claim abortion ‘no longer a big factor’ in election

Former President Donald Trump claims abortion will be "a very small issue" for voters this November but New Hampshire Democrats disagree. Two years …

Although abortion access is currently legal in Wyoming, there is only one clinic performing procedural abortions and one providing medication abortions. (Adobe Stock)

WY judge expected to make decision on abortion case

A Wyoming district judge is expected to decide a case over a state law which would ban abortions with few exceptions. The "Life is a Human Right …

Health advocates deliver petitions to Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Affordable Virginia)

VA health advocates push to protect the Affordable Care Act

Health advocates in Virginia are calling to protect the Affordable Care Act as it faces scrutiny from some national Republicans. More than 300 …

Harris also travels to Houston, Texas, this week for a speech at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers. (WH.gov)

Harris in Indianapolis: ‘We are not playing around’

Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, delivered a powerful message in Indianapolis. Speaking at a Zeta …

Gov. Mike Parson chose not to sign or veto Senate Bill 751, allowing it to become law automatically. (M. Suhail/Adobe Stock)

New Missouri law ensures medication access

Gov. Mike Parson recently announced Senate Bill 751 would become law, allowing Missourians to access essential medications within their communities …

Medicaid expansion has the potential to reduce the number of uninsured individuals in the state by 43%, according to a report by the nonprofit Alabama Arise. (Adobe Stock)

AL nonprofit urges Medicaid expansion to 'save rural hospitals'

An Alabama group is sounding the alarm about the need for Medicaid expansion, in part to keep rural hospitals in business. Many hospitals in Alabama …

Wyoming ranks 47th in the nation for coverage, access and affordability of women's health and reproductive care, according to a new Commonwealth Fund scorecard. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WY ranks low on women’s access to health and reproductive care

Wyoming ranks 42nd in the U.S. for women's health and reproductive care, according to a new report - and some are urging lawmakers to make changes…

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

VP Harris addresses reproductive rights in Michigan visit

Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights at a campaign event in Michigan Wednesday. Her remarks come as President Joe Biden has …

(In)Accessible: 'When vanlife meets abortion access '

In Pennsylvania, a unique mobile van brings reproductive resources to communities across Western Pennsylvania. A new podcast, called "(In)Accessible,…

The Stronger Tomorrows initiative helps students receive accommodations from their school, like excused absences and connects them to young parent support groups. (Adobe stock)

Indiana initiative aims to lower infant mortality

By Haley Miller for Chalkbeat Indiana.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Indiana-Free Press Indiana-P…

If implemented, Project 2025 would make it legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and delete terms including

Civil rights groups sound alarm on Project 2025

Civil rights groups are sounding the alarm about potential threats to American democracy posed by Project 2025, a roadmap created by the Heritage …

In virtually identical court declarations, professors involved in a lawsuit against the Biden administration said they will not honor any student's demands to be addressed by the singular pronoun

Texas professors wage war on Title IX, threatening students' rights to abortions

By Shoshanna Ehrlich for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

AZ senator: Many liberties at stake ahead of election

Abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, gun-violence and democracy itself are some of the issues Democrats said are at stake ahead of November's election. Sen…

Women's labor force participation would be 2.6% higher in South Dakota without the state's strict abortion laws, according to an analysis by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. (Jacob Lund/ Adobe Stock)

Report: Abortion restrictions cost SD’s economy $670 million annually

Abortion bans and restrictions limit women's participation in the workforce, according to a new analysis that quantifies the negative impacts on …

The approach aims to make nutritious foods more accessible and affordable, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for mothers and their babies. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

AR health center aims to get more healthy foods to expecting mothers

A southeast Arkansas healthcare system is using grant money to help increase its patients' access to healthy foods. Mainline Health Systems will …

The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal in an abortion case from Idaho, making the procedure still available in emergency situations. (Jude/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS decision in ID case allows emergency abortions – for now

A ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday will allow for abortions in emergency situations in Idaho - for now. The justices said they were …

Some 17% of people in Indiana with HIV are unaware of their status, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

IN center hosts sites for National HIV Testing Day

Today is National HIV Testing Day. First observed in the U.S. in 1995, anyone who is sexually active is urged to get tested to know their HIV status…

Male fertility has been dropping worldwide in the past few decades, especially in countries that produce a lot of chemicals known to disrupt hormones, including PFAS substances. (Adobe Stock)

WSU study reveals PFAS chemicals in men affect their offspring

A groundbreaking report from a team of Wayne State University researchers revealed fathers pass down more than genetics to their children. They are …

Connectus Health received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last year. The funding helps improve health outcomes for patients at the highest risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. (Gorodenkoff)

Tennessee health centers bridging gap in women's health care services

The Tennessee Primary Care Association and its affiliated community health centers are working to increase accessibility to essential women's health-c…

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up almost 6% of the Texas population. Texas ranks third among all states with the largest AAPI population, after California and New York. (Trueffelpix/Adobe Stock)

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in TX face health disparities

Almost half of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who live in Texas are skipping routine healthcare because of cost, according to a survey by …

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, 22 states have passed laws to protect or expand access to abortion.

NE physician discusses impact of year-old 12-week abortion ban

Nebraska physicians and their patients have been dealing with the state's 12-week abortion ban since it went into effect just over a year ago…

The number of Arkansas children living in poverty remained the same as last year. (bonniemarie/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas receives mixed results in annual Kids Count Data Book

Arkansas is ranked 45th in the 2024 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report ranks states on the overall condition …

A National Abortion Federation report revealed in 2021, nationwide incidences of stalking at abortion clinics rose by 600%. Assault and battery cases increased by 128%. (Adobe Stock)

IL lawmakers boost funding for Planned Parenthood

The Illinois General Assembly has just passed a $53 billion state budget which includes a boost in funding for Planned Parenthood. Reproductive …

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years had affirmed the constitutional right to an abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: One in five women personally impacted by Dobbs decision on abortion

As Texas made recent headlines for ruling against a group of women seeking abortion for serious pregnancy complications, polling found one in five …

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, about eight out of every 10 women have fibroids by age 50. (Adobe Stock)

Raising awareness about fibroids, treatment options

More than 26 million women in the United States have fibroids, benign growths typically in the uterus and reproductive organs, and fewer than half of …

The ballot initiative to enshrine some protections to abortion in the South Dakota constitution received about 20,000 more signatures than needed to get on the November ballot. (Adobe Stock)

New group asks SD abortion petition signers to rescind

South Dakota's Secretary of State received more than enough signatures to get a decision on abortion rights on the November ballot but some signees ar…

Fibroid Awareness Month is observed in July, with the goal of improving access to care and research funding. (Peakstock/Adobe Stock)

Health care advocates suggest medical collaboration to treat fibroids

May is Women's Health Month and more than 26 million women in the United States have fibroids. Fibroids are benign growths, typically in the uterus …

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