More than half of US women feel like they have to fight to get the medical care they need, new research has found.
The State of Maternal Health Report, published by the consulting and market research firm The Harris Poll, highlighted alarming challenges around maternal healthcare in the US.
The survey, conducted in April among more than 1,000 US women, identified that a worrying proportion of women believe they must fight to receive the medical care they need, with more than half of women (53 per cent) agreeing with this sentiment.
The research found that roughly two in five women who were pregnant or had been pregnant said they experienced challenges to accessing care during pregnancy and childbirth. Access to care issues appeared even more pronounced among younger women aged 18-34, women residing in the South, employed women and mothers with children under 18.
Only 42 per cent of women who were pregnant or had ever been pregnant strongly felt they had access to the best possible care, the findings also showed, a significant drop from 50 per cent in 2022.
“The data clearly show that not only are many women feeling disregarded and underserved by our healthcare system during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, but there is also an overwhelming demand for immediate improvements to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all mothers in America,” said Christina Lojek, research manager at The Harris Poll.
“Furthermore, the results confirm that access to care and care quality issues are becoming more prevalent, and depending on which state you live in, you could be more at risk.”
Two-thirds of US women (67 per cent) expressed concerns that the current political climate is exacerbating the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
However, women are demanding change – a vast majority (83 per cent) state that more needs to be done to ensure safer pregnancy and birthing conditions in the US, with 45 per cent strongly endorsing this view.
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