How health systems are failing women of reproductive age, and what you can to do help
Key Takeaways
Experts recognize that women face unique health challenges at different points in their lives.
According to surveys, women in the US suffer higher maternal mortality rates and rates of death from avoidable causes than women in other high-income countries. They are also more likely to delay or skip care due to financial barriers.
Researchers believe that offering access to affordable and nondiscriminatory healthcare and bridging knowledge gaps is crucial to creating positive health outcomes and better overall well-being for women in the US.
The medical consequences of the US Supreme Court’s 2022 Roe v. Wade ruling on women are serious, according to an article published by Nature.[]
This and other emerging research spotlight the ways US health systems fail to care for women, as indicated by rising maternal mortality rates, the presence of chronic conditions, and other health issues. Physicians may help improve the health and well-being of women by implementing preventive health practices.
Healthcare for women is subpar
Women of reproductive age face numerous obstacles in healthcare, which may be why only a quarter of American women in a survey published by the Commonwealth Fund rated the US healthcare system with high marks.[]
According to this survey, women in the US have the highest rates of death from avoidable causes (including pregnancy complications) compared with women of other high-income countries.
The authors estimated that with proper care and preventive measures, almost 200 in 100,000 deaths among women in the US could have been avoided.
The survey also found that the costs of care for women in the US soared above those for women of other high-income countries. Over 25% of adult women in the US spend at least $2,000 in out-of-pocket medical costs. In comparison, less than 5% of women in the UK, France, and The Netherlands pay the same.
These findings indicate that women in the US are at a significant financial disadvantage—which may be why they often delay care or skip it altogether.
According to the survey results, 50% of women in the US have had to forgo seeing a doctor, filling a prescription, getting medically tested, and taking their medication as prescribed due to costs—a notable proportion compared with women in other high-income countries.
Related: What is 'Femtech,' and how is it changing women’s healthcare?Maternal mortality rates are rising
Beyond financial barriers, US women have long faced the highest rates of maternal mortality among women in high-income countries. In 2020, there were reportedly 24 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, amounting to more than three times the rate in other countries included in the survey.
This may be due to several factors, including an uptick in C-sections, inadequate prenatal care, and rising rates of chronic illnesses. The stakes are higher for Black women, as they are nearly three times as likely to die from maternal complications as White women.
These statistics may be a hard pill to swallow, but there’s still hope for doctors to make a difference.
Creating healthier futures for women
Although many of the changes needed to improve care for women are systemic and subject to the actions of policymakers, physicians are not without power.
According to the Commonwealth Fund, doctors can help prevent avoidable deaths by implementing preventive healthcare practices. Examples include screening for cancer and providing appropriate immunizations.
Along with preventive healthcare, physicians who are knowledgeable about specific health conditions pertinent to their patient populations may make a difference in the exam room.
In a position paper published by the Annals of Internal Medicine, authors from the American College of Physicians asserted that doctors of all specialties and fields, including internal medicine, may improve care for women if they have proper training on health issues of high relevance to their patients.[]
This training should focus on both primary and comprehensive care of women, covering not only office gynecology but also team-based care involving the internist for complex problems. In this way, physicians will be prepared to provide the best possible care for patients.
What this means for you
Women of reproductive age in the US face several health challenges: high rates of death from avoidable causes, high maternal mortality rates, and financial barriers to care. To help improve the well-being of women of all ages, physicians can implement preventive health practices such as screenings and appropriate immunizations. Seek further training on the health issues that may be relevant to the women you treat.
In our Women's Health Focus feature, we'll offer insights and practical guidance to support you in providing the comprehensive and personalized care that women need throughout their life stages. We invite you to submit any topic you'd like to see covered and let us know if you'd like to be a guest author.