Rural Women Prioritize Maternity Care Over Abortion Access – KFF Health News
BAKER CITY, Ore. — In a distressing turn of events, the only hospital maternity ward in this small Oregon town, just an hour from the Idaho border, closed its doors in 2023, leaving many women in dire straits when it comes to pregnancy care. Shyanne McCoy, a 23-year-old resident, found herself facing a 45-mile trek over a mountain pass to the nearest hospital with an obstetrician when she was pregnant and developed symptoms of preeclampsia last January. She ultimately had to travel two hours away to Boise, Idaho, to ensure a safe delivery for her daughter, highlighting the lack of adequate healthcare for rural young women like her.
Maternity Care Over Abortion
For McCoy and others in rural areas, the urgent need for proper pregnancy care has overshadowed concerns about abortion access, a contentious issue in Oregon and other states. While Oregon is known for its progressive abortion laws, attempts to expand access in conservative rural regions have faced staunch resistance, pitting urban lawmakers against rural leaders like Paige Witham, a mom of two from Baker City.
Challenges in Rural Healthcare
A JAMA study revealed that over 50% of rural hospitals lacked obstetrics care by 2022, leading to severe health implications for young women and their babies. With the closure of the Baker City maternity ward and the removal of a proposed mobile reproductive health clinic providing abortion services, the healthcare divide between rural and urban areas is becoming more apparent.
Access to Abortion Services
While some healthcare providers like Nathan Defrees in Baker City offer information on obtaining abortions, the stigma and lack of anonymity in small towns deter many from providing the service. Though only a handful of residents in Baker County had abortions in 2023, the need for better access to abortion services, especially in rural areas, cannot be ignored.
In the face of limited reproductive health services in rural regions, the closure of hospitals, and stringent abortion laws in neighboring states, the challenges for women seeking essential healthcare are mounting. It is clear that the debate between expanding abortion access and ensuring adequate maternity care is far from over, with rural communities bearing the brunt of these healthcare disparities. The struggle for equitable healthcare continues, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the diverse needs of women in rural America.
