Racial disparities make the situation even more dire. I read an article by a female MD who is Black— clearly someone who could advocate for herself—relate a harrowing story about her hospital stay. She almost died because she wasn’t believed when she told staff what she was experiencing. Why does this persist? (Racism, I know, but is it insurmountable?)
The shortages in womens health will have a cascading effect. Some services will be provided by primary care physicians ( e.g., orders for mammograms, birth control pills). This is already the case in some underserved areas. But primary care providers are already stressed. Insurance reimbursed them at a lower rate for the same services provided by specialists ay a higher rate.
Fewer ob/gyn doctors, nurses, educators...is there a pattern here? An uneducated population accepts poor healthcare, poor outcomes for birth and follows a paternalistic-type of leadership. In this type of society (think pre-1900 and the non-elite) there is a value placed on producing as many babies as possible because it is accepted that some of them will not survive. A woman's purpose in this climate is to birth babies as her contribution to society. Are we ready for that?
Great article and I totally agree. In addition, sadly women of color often experience very different medical care in general.
Racial disparities make the situation even more dire. I read an article by a female MD who is Black— clearly someone who could advocate for herself—relate a harrowing story about her hospital stay. She almost died because she wasn’t believed when she told staff what she was experiencing. Why does this persist? (Racism, I know, but is it insurmountable?)
Thank for an excellent article, which I will share to Fb. Every woman can relate to an access to Ob/Gyn care.
The shortages in womens health will have a cascading effect. Some services will be provided by primary care physicians ( e.g., orders for mammograms, birth control pills). This is already the case in some underserved areas. But primary care providers are already stressed. Insurance reimbursed them at a lower rate for the same services provided by specialists ay a higher rate.
Fewer ob/gyn doctors, nurses, educators...is there a pattern here? An uneducated population accepts poor healthcare, poor outcomes for birth and follows a paternalistic-type of leadership. In this type of society (think pre-1900 and the non-elite) there is a value placed on producing as many babies as possible because it is accepted that some of them will not survive. A woman's purpose in this climate is to birth babies as her contribution to society. Are we ready for that?
We are at the precipice. Bring rope.
I was reading another comparative study that found we have far fewer midwives per capital than European countries.