Many U.S. Women Unhappy With With Maternal Health Care, Poll Finds

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Final up to date on June 5, 2024.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 6, 2024 — Many ladies are sad with the state of U.S. maternal well being care, however a significant new ballot finds most Individuals don’t perceive how badly the nation lags behind different rich international locations on this space.

Solely about 2 in 5 (42%) girls at present pregnant or ever pregnant strongly felt they’d entry to the very best medical care whereas pregnant, down considerably from 50% in 2022, in response to The Harris Ballot’s second annual survey on the state of maternal well being care.

Ladies reported comparable numbers relating to their well being care whereas giving delivery. About 44% felt they’d entry to the very best medical care throughout supply, down from 52% in 2022, outcomes present.

“These outcomes affirm that being pregnant and delivery care in the US is on the decline, and there’s a lot room for enchancment,” mentioned Christina Lojek, analysis supervisor, media and communications analysis, at The Harris Ballot.

Regardless of this, Individuals had been nonetheless prone to rank U.S. maternal care higher than it really is, when in comparison with that of different high-income international locations, the ballot discovered.

For instance, solely about 1 in 4 (29%) Individuals surveyed appropriately acknowledged that the US doesn’t have one of many lowest charges of toddler mortality amongst developed international locations.

In truth, the US has the best price of toddler mortality amongst rich nations, at 5.4 deaths for each 1,000 reside births, a 2022 Commonwealth Fund report reveals. The following main international locations are Canada (4.5 toddler deaths), New Zealand (4.3), The Netherlands (3.8) and the UK (3.6).

Equally, solely about 2 in 5 (40%) Individuals knew that the nation has one of many highest charges of maternal mortality.

Maternal mortality charges in the US are double and generally triple that of different rich nations, in response to a Commonwealth Fund report issued earlier this week.

U.S. girls had a maternal dying price from issues of being pregnant and childbirth of twenty-two deaths per 100,000 reside births in 2022, the report mentioned. The dying price of Black American girls was even worse, at almost 50 deaths per 100,000 reside births.

However solely half of all Individuals (50%) and simply 57% of Black Individuals know that Black girls are almost 3 times as probably as white girls to die from pregnancy-related causes, the ballot discovered.

“Total, Individuals are poorly knowledgeable about giving delivery within the U.S., particularly surrounding dangers and issues, particularly for Black girls,” the ballot acknowledged.

The ballot additionally discovered that many U.S. girls develop well being issues throughout being pregnant, for which they want excellent care.

Practically 3 in 5 (57%) girls who’re or have been pregnant mentioned they had been recognized with a medical situation between conception and after supply. That features about 1 in 3 (32%) who mentioned they had been recognized with nervousness, melancholy or one other psychological well being situation.

Younger girls ages 18 to 34 had been greater than twice as probably as these ages 35 and older to have been recognized with a psychological well being drawback (61% versus 26%), ballot outcomes confirmed.

About 1 in 5 (21%) of girls who sought assist for his or her psychological well being issues mentioned they both didn’t obtain care or had been sad with the care they obtained.

“So many ladies who’ve been pregnant handled psychological well being situations through the being pregnant journey, and it’s a bit jarring to study that 1 in 5 went untreated or weren’t glad with the care they obtained,” Lojek mentioned.

Total, the ballot discovered that the US has a poor observe file in the case of giving pregnant girls the well being care and help that they want.

Greater than half of girls (53%) believed girls like them need to battle to get the medical care they want, ballot outcomes confirmed.

Ladies between the ages of 18 and 44 had been extra probably than these aged 45+ to really feel this fashion (67% versus 42%).

“Based mostly on our survey outcomes, it’s evident that we as a rustic have to make entry to being pregnant, delivery and postpartum care, in addition to very best care, simpler for all girls, and areas of care enchancment needs to be targeted on affected person training and help to make sure girls have safer and improved outcomes,” Lojek mentioned.

The ballot concerned 2,061 U.S. adults surveyed between April 2 and 4, 2024. Of these, 1,116 had been girls and 692 had been girls who’ve been pregnant or given delivery. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 share factors.

Sources

The Harris Ballot, information launch, June 5, 2024

Disclaimer: Statistical knowledge in medical articles present normal developments and don’t pertain to people. Particular person components can fluctuate drastically. At all times search personalised medical recommendation for particular person healthcare selections.

Posted June 2024