Missouri: pregnancy mortality rates up thanks to "pro-life" policies.

[Underseer]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/20...regnancy-shows-pro-life-governance-gone-wrong

Who could have guessed that making health care harder to get would result in more dead mothers? I guess we will never solve that mystery.

 

[RavenSky]

They are just women.

The Republican Right couldn't care less.

 

[Underseer]

They are just women.

The Republican Right couldn't care less.

Unfortunately, you're right.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

The better thinking is in the comments below the article rather than in the article itself.

[quote="NoBlinkers" commentator on article]
Thanks for pointing this out, Chris...that’s a chilling graph.

I’m sure some of it is tied to obesity — you’re more likely to have pregnancy-related complications when you’re obese (same with diabetes). More is tied to poverty, lack of affordable healthcare...and more tied to the fact that lack of access to contraceptives and sex ed leads to pregnancies that aren’t planned...and may be problematic, if the woman already knows she has health problems and shouldn't be pregnant.

Add in a lack of access to an ability to terminate bad pregnancies, and yeah. [/quote]

There are many reasons why there are higher mortality rates in the south. Another poster mentioned lax gun control and alleged that women who are pregnant are far more likely to be murdered (true?)

 

[Underseer]

The better thinking is in the comments below the article rather than in the article itself.

[quote="NoBlinkers" commentator on article]
Thanks for pointing this out, Chris...that’s a chilling graph.

I’m sure some of it is tied to obesity — you’re more likely to have pregnancy-related complications when you’re obese (same with diabetes). More is tied to poverty, lack of affordable healthcare...and more tied to the fact that lack of access to contraceptives and sex ed leads to pregnancies that aren’t planned...and may be problematic, if the woman already knows she has health problems and shouldn't be pregnant.

Add in a lack of access to an ability to terminate bad pregnancies, and yeah.

There are many reasons why there are higher mortality rates in the south. Another poster mentioned lax gun control and alleged that women who are pregnant are far more likely to be murdered (true?)[/QUOTE]

Yes, and many of those reasons are directly tied to conservolibertarian policies, hence the article. It's the policies of the "pro life" crowd that is endangering those women.

 

[Keith&Co.]

Another poster mentioned lax gun control and alleged that women who are pregnant are far more likely to be murdered (true?)

True or not, would that impact these numbers, though?
It's mother deaths per live birth. I'd tend to suspect that in the case of murder, most babies go down with mom...

 

[ronburgundy]

The better thinking is in the comments below the article rather than in the article itself.

[quote="NoBlinkers" commentator on article]
Thanks for pointing this out, Chris...that’s a chilling graph.

I’m sure some of it is tied to obesity — you’re more likely to have pregnancy-related complications when you’re obese (same with diabetes). More is tied to poverty, lack of affordable healthcare...and more tied to the fact that lack of access to contraceptives and sex ed leads to pregnancies that aren’t planned...and may be problematic, if the woman already knows she has health problems and shouldn't be pregnant.

Add in a lack of access to an ability to terminate bad pregnancies, and yeah.

[/QUOTE]

Sure, but most of those are directly tied to GOP anti-abortion policies, which also restrict access to contraception, and abortion options for high risk unplanned pregnancies.
Not to mention to GOP policies also increase poverty rates and lack of healthcare for the poor.
Heck, even obesity is tied to poverty and thus GOP policies. That's the weakest link, but also obesity itself would explain very little of the variance in mortality rates. The variance in mortality is greater than a 500% difference between states, yet obesity rates are only 50% higher in the worst states than the fittest states. Plus, you have GOP controlled anti-abortion states like Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, and Alaska that have high pregnancy mortality rates but are actually below most states in obesity.
http://calorielab.com/news/wp-images/post-images/fattest-states-2017-468.jpg

 

[Loren Pechtel]

What do you expect?

[Channeling GOP]
And we have too many poor people, why bother if some die?
[/Channeling]

 

[humbleman]

I think that if women want the government to be out of their business about how to take care of their pregnancy, then women can't demand anything from the government in reference to their pregnancy.

I see this issue in a different way than many do.

Unfortunately the Missouri pregnancy mortality rate is not showing the age, education, economical status, health status of the women who died during pregnancy, while attempting to have an abortion or, if the child died right after was born. I can't see what is included in specific in those 28.5% deaths per 100,000 live births.

"Assuming" that their death was by health problems, then it is encouraged to improve medical attention in that State.

"Assuming" that their death was mostly by attempts of having abortion by inexperienced personnel or by themselves, then the government can't do much because women have demanded the government to be out of their business in this aspect.

This is to say, you buy an expensive house, you find out you can't pay the mortgage, surely you won't go and demand the government to do something for you, because you are the one who decided to by that house, you are the one who put the signature in the contract, you are the responsible one of the payments.

Then, BEFORE you demand something from the government, isn't better to check if you can afford the mortgage payments?

Before getting pregnant, isn't the responsibility of the woman and her companion to check if continuing or avoid having unprotected sex?

Something is not told properly in this news about Missouri.

If you want to tell that 28.5% deaths of 100,000 live births is happening, that is surely acceptable.

To point the government as the "guilty" side in this issue because is making obstacles for more abortions, that is an error.

Abortion is not natural, is not part of pregnancy. Abortion is "termination" of pregnancy.

This term "termination" is also applied to the killing of animals in a shelter, when the expression is "the dog was terminated" like in this news

http://www.toledoblade.com/Dogs-for...rdenterminatedfor-uncleanconditions-Copy.html

"Dog warden terminated for unclean conditions "

Then, abortion simply means "killing".

If you want to make this expression softer, you can say, "abortion is putting the fetus to sleep", like animal shelters do as well.

I guess my opinion is exposed to attacks, but i see it the way it is, that the government is not the one who caused the woman to get pregnant, that the responsibility of the government is providing means for a healthy status of the woman during her pregnancy. The purpose of the Constitution and the government is the physical and intellectual SAFETY of the citizens, and solely if a pregnancy might cause the death of the woman, then a solution may be for her having an abortion.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Well, that's like saying that the government shouldn't provide cancer treatment to smokers. Providing basic medical care for one's citizens is one of the key roles of a government.

 

[Elixir]

Well, that's like saying that the government shouldn't provide cancer treatment to smokers. Providing basic medical care for one's citizens is one of the key roles of my government.

FIFY

Here in 'Murrika, Providing basic medical care is Big Business, and da gummint ain't got no cause to interfere wid FREE enterprise!

 

[starwater]

It is also the guvment teaching abstinence only birth control, which has proven time and time again to not work. Humans are going to have sex, and having access to birth control is going to result in fewer pregnancies. It's forcing one set of religious beliefs on everyone.

 

[ronburgundy]

I think that if women want the government to be out of their business about how to take care of their pregnancy, then women can't demand anything from the government in reference to their pregnancy.

I see this issue in a different way than many do.

Unfortunately the Missouri pregnancy mortality rate is not showing the age, education, economical status, health status of the women who died during pregnancy, while attempting to have an abortion or, if the child died right after was born. I can't see what is included in specific in those 28.5% deaths per 100,000 live births.

"Assuming" that their death was by health problems, then it is encouraged to improve medical attention in that State.

That is just it, the GOP specifically prohibits improvements to medical attention related to pregnancy. Abortion is a scientifically based sound medical procedure to reduce the many risks of pregnancy. The GOP is prohibiting the free market exchange between people who want such medical procedures to protect their health and those who would be willing to provide that service. Thus, the State is causing additional deaths to mothers that would not occur without abortion restrictions.

"Assuming" that their death was mostly by attempts of having abortion by inexperienced personnel or by themselves, then the government can't do much because women have demanded the government to be out of their business in this aspect.

Many of the deaths are caused by the pregnancy itself, and the State's restrictions of the proper medical treatment of such risk, which is often abortion. Pregnancy is dangerous and posses many health risks to the mother. Almost any restriction on abortion increases the number of women who continue a risky pregnancy rather than prevent the risks via an abortion.
The health risks getting an abortion due to an unskilled practitioner or doing it oneself are directly impacted by the government intrusion into the abortion business. Few restrictions on abortions are designed to increase safety, rather just the opposite. The GOP put restrictions and regulations on abortions in order to make them as unsafe and as expensive as possible.`Many southern states require that women travel many hours and spend multiple days at clinics that must meet facility regulations that have nothing to do with performing abortions.

Abortion is not natural, is not part of pregnancy. Abortion is "termination" of pregnancy.

Abortion is as natural as getting cancer treatment or all other acts of getting a medical procedure to protect your health against a serious risk.

 

[Trausti]

Daily Kos ought to be avoided. Check out the source article and not the ridiculous lefty spin: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article190436299.html

The higher maternal mortality rate is linked to obesity, smoking, and distance to OB/GYNs. Nothing to do with "pro-life" policies or abortion.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Daily Kos ought to be avoided. Check out the source article and not the ridiculous lefty spin: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article190436299.html

The higher maternal mortality rate is linked to obesity, smoking, and distance to OB/GYNs. Nothing to do with "pro-life" policies or abortion.

Sure of that?

How many of those dangerous pregnancies would have been aborted if that was an option? Medicaid won't do an abortion unless the patient is going to die right now without it. If she might die tomorrow without an abortion, too bad.

Also, the article doesn't go into the exact mechanism of the deaths--when the shit hits the fan the doctors can favor protecting the woman or favor protecting the fetus. We have enough of a problem already with Catholic-owned hospitals tipping this so far towards the fetus that I would call the resulting deaths malpractice unless she was told the situation and elected to take the risk. The problem is bad enough that pregnant women who want proper medical care should avoid Catholic hospitals. Even those with reproductive system issues should hesitate before going to one--they might not tell her if a hysterectomy is the right answer.

 

[scombrid]

The higher maternal mortality rate is linked to obesity, smoking, and distance to OB/GYNs. Nothing to do with "pro-life" policies or abortion.

Distance to OB/GYNs is to do with "pro-life" policies as espoused by the GOP in states where they are actively blocking abortion, contraception, etc...

 

[RavenSky]

The higher maternal mortality rate is linked to obesity, smoking, and distance to OB/GYNs. Nothing to do with "pro-life" policies or abortion.

Distance to OB/GYNs is to do with "pro-life" policies as espoused by the GOP in states where they are actively blocking abortion, contraception, etc...

^^^ That

The anti-abortion zealots have successfully shut down so many women's clinics and Planned Parenthood offices that pregnancy care - and related care to stop smoking and/or eat healthier during pregnancy - is unavailable.

 

[laughing dog]

The higher maternal mortality rate is linked to obesity, smoking, and distance to OB/GYNs. Nothing to do with "pro-life" policies or abortion.

Distance to OB/GYNs is to do with "pro-life" policies as espoused by the GOP in states where they are actively blocking abortion, contraception, etc...

From the article cited by Trausti

All of those risks are compounded when pregnant women don’t see a doctor regularly. A report released by Williams’ agency in May found that 17.5 percent of Missouri women received no prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy.

That’s partly an issue of access. Williams said 67 Missouri counties don’t have a single OB/GYN. He’s decided to spend one Saturday a month working in a clinic in Springfield, in addition to running the health department.

 

[ronburgundy]

Daily Kos ought to be avoided. Check out the source article and not the ridiculous lefty spin: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article190436299.html

The higher maternal mortality rate is linked to obesity, smoking, and distance to OB/GYNs. Nothing to do with "pro-life" policies or abortion.

Why did you mention the "source article" but then link to a worthless news article that uses a lying political GOP shill as its main source?
The OBGYN they rely on is a political appointee of the GOP governor. He was a former appointee of the GOP governor of NC, where he helped to poison the local population by lying to them about the dangerous coal ash in their drinking water caused by the Duke Energy company. He undermined a state toxicologist's efforts to warn well-owning residents about their drinking water. Williams, then made proven false allegations in an attempt to attack the integrity of that toxicologist. For these criminal efforts the GOP NC governor awarded him with an appointment to the NC Oil and Gas Commission.

Also, I already explained why obesity cannot account for more than tiny fraction of the state-by-state variance in maternal mortality.
Some of the GOP controlled states with lower than average obesity rates still have higher than average mortality. Plus, the degree of variation in obesity rates is 1/10th the degree of variation in maternal mortality.
The same goes for smoking. Florida, Texas, and Arizona are all GOP controlled with restrictive abortion policies and higher than average maternal mortality rates, yet they have lower than average smoking rates (similar rates the New England states, IL, and WA, which are Dem states with low maternal mortality rates).

As with all laws, rich people can people usually can get around them. GOP policies that restrictions abortions, contraception, and related education most severely impact the lower income people who are also the most at risk from pregnancy due to other health risk factors.
So, the causality isn't an either/or issue, but rather an interaction between other health risks and policies that make unwanted dangerous pregnancies more prevalent and eliminate many women's options to deal with them in the most rational, medically sound way, which is often abortion.

Plus, those added health risks are more prevalent in GOP controlled states, because of GOP policies in other areas. That includes their economic policies that increase economic disparities and thus poverty (which increases obesity, health damaging stress, and proper medical care), and pro-tobacco policies on public smoking (and smoking around one's kids, which amounts to child abuse).

IOW, religion based anti-choice GOP policies interact with other GOP policies that increase other sources of pregnancy risks to result in a strong correlation between how strongly controlled by the GOP a state is and its maternal mortality. There are of course exceptions, because there are other factors that impact obesity, smoking, and personal views on pregnancy. But the most parsimonious account for the strong state-by-state covariance between GOP control and maternal mortality are the combined effects of GOP policies in reproductive and other areas.

 

[RavenSky]

WTF Georgia?

How has this not been struck down yet?

Commonly referred to as the “fetal pain bill” by Georgian Republicans and as the “women as livestock bill” by everyone else, HB 954 garnered national attention this month when state Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn) compared pregnant women carrying stillborn fetuses to the cows and pigs on his farm. According to Rep. England and his warped thought process, if farmers have to “deliver calves, dead or alive,” then a woman carrying a dead fetus, or one not expected to survive, should have to carry it to term.

HB 954 excludes a woman’s “emotional or mental condition,” which means women suffering from mental illness would be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. It also ignores pregnant women who are suicidal and driven to inflict harm on themselves because of their unwanted pregnancy.

In order for a pregnancy to be considered “medically futile,” the fetus must be diagnosed with an irreversible chromosomal or congenital anomaly that is “incompatible with sustaining life after birth.” The Georgia “fetal pain” bill also stipulates that the abortion must be performed in such a way that the fetus emerges alive. If doctors perform the abortion differently, they face felony charges and up to 10 years in prison. Given all this, the so-called compromise suddenly does not look like much of a bargain.

The mental gymnastics these dicks go through to deny a woman the right to her own body and medical decisions is mind boggling.

http://msmagazine.com/blog/2012/03/31/at-11th-hour-georgia-passes-women-as-livestock-bill/

Putting this here because it is policies like this that are causing the increase in maternal mortality rates

2. Consigning women to death to save a fetus. Abortions save women’s lives. “Let women die” bills are happening all over the country. There is no simple or pretty way to put this. Every day, all over the world, women die because they do not have access to safe abortions. Yet, here we are, returning to the dark ages of maternal sacrifice. Do really have to type this sentence: this is a violation of women’s fundamental right to life.

3. Criminalizing pregnancy and miscarriages and arresting, imprisoning and charging women who miscarry with murder, like Rennie Gibbs in Mississippi or at least 40 other similar cases in Alabama or like Bei Bei Shuai, a woman who is now imprisoned, is charged with murder after trying to commit suicide while pregnant. Pregnant women are becoming a special class subject to “special” laws that infringe on their fundamental rights.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/womens-reproductive-rights_b_1345214.html