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A recent study found that Ohio’s health care system for women is “worse than average” compared to other states. The state ranked 29th overall in the 2024 “State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care” by the Commonwealth Fund.
The study used 32 measures of access, quality, and health outcomes. Nationally, deaths from preventable causes are rising, with stark racial differences in maternal mortality and deaths from breast and cervical cancers. Despite a slight improvement in women’s life expectancy in 2022, it remains at its lowest since 2006.
The study highlighted that state policy choices and judicial decisions limit women’s access to health services and reproductive care. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has significantly impacted women’s health care access, especially in Ohio.
Following the Supreme Court decision, Ohio’s Attorney General attempted to reinstate a six-week abortion ban. This law was temporarily enforced but later paused by a Hamilton County judge. In response, a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights was approved by Ohio voters, leading to ongoing legal battles.
The study highlighted significant concerns in Ohio, including high rates of self-pay in-hospital births, poor mental health for women aged 18 to 64, and high infant mortality rates. Ohio’s infant mortality rate was 7.1 per 1,000 live births, ranking it 44th in the country.
Ohio performed better in the rate of uninsured women aged 19 to 64, with only 6% lacking health insurance compared to the national average of 10%. The state also showed improvements in routine checkups for women aged 18 to 44.
Ohio’s health care system for women faces significant challenges. Policy changes and increased focus on reproductive and preventive care are crucial to improving women’s health outcomes in the state.