Jan 6, 2025 Story by: Editor
According to an analysis of Medicare data from July 2017 to June 2024, OB/GYN enrollments in states with abortion bans showed no significant changes in the two years following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. However, researchers observed a decline in the number of OB/GYNs moving to states with abortion bans since 2017.
Medicare data suggests a shift in OB/GYN movement into states without abortion restrictions, a trend that predates the Dobbs ruling. “This is an early look at this research question, and the effects on the workforce will continue to unroll for many years,” said Julia Strasser, DrPH, MPH, assistant research professor of health policy and management, and director of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health at George Washington University, in an interview with Healio. “Future research should continue to examine OB/GYN movement, and other indicators of workforce well-being including burnout and moral injury.”
This research emerged as one of the major stories in women’s health last week.
In another leading story, a retrospective study revealed that although Black and white newborns exhibited similar mortality rates, Black premature newborns constantly faced higher rates of necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis compared to their white counterparts.
Key Stories in Women’s Health:
- No Significant Change in OB/GYN Enrollment After Dobbs:
Despite the Dobbs ruling, the number of OB/GYN enrollments in states without abortion bans remained largely unaffected over the past two years. However, fewer OB/GYNs have been enrolling in states with abortion bans since 2017, according to findings published in Health Affairs Scholar. - Higher Complication Rates for Black Premature Newborns:
Black premature newborns experience higher complication rates, including necrotizing enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis, compared to white premature newborns, despite having similar mortality rates. - Online Support for Women with Pregnancy and Lactation-Induced Osteoporosis:
Women with pregnancy and lactation-induced osteoporosis reported reduced disease-related fears and concerns after joining an online peer support group, where they shared their healthcare experiences. This was highlighted in a study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - Insurance Loss After Childbirth Linked to Lower Contraception Use:
Women who lost insurance coverage more than two months after childbirth were less likely to use prescription contraception, underscoring the need for better contraception affordability. This was revealed in research published in O&G Open. - CDC Updates HBV Vaccine Recommendations for Pregnant Patients:
Following post-licensure studies, the CDC has recommended Heplisav-B as an option for pregnant patients needing hepatitis B vaccination, noting that its use does not increase the risk of major birth defects or miscarriage. Source: Healio
