First Posted: 3/25/2015
LIMA — In terms of infant mortality, Ohio is about as bad as it gets.
According to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the state is ranked 48th in the nation overall for infant mortality and 50th in black infant mortality.
One of the largest factors contributing to the issue is the limited access mothers-to-be have to obstetricians and gynecologists. Which, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, affects nearly 5 million Ohio women, who are served by only 1,158 OB-GYNS.
According to a map of OB-GYNS and women’s access in Ohio published by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Allen County has 11 in the area serving more than 42,000 women. Neighboring counties such as Putnam, Van Wert or Hardin County are more seriously affected by the shortage with just one OB-GYN in the area, if any at all.
Health Department Director of Nursing Becky Dershem said access to prenatal care isn’t the most pressing issue in Allen County with three different care centers in the area that additionally serve women from outside counties. The number of women in the area taking advantage of prenatal care early on in pregnancy has continued to slowly improve, according to a department report, though infant mortality itself remains a cause for concern for a number of reasons.
“The county is very fortunate to have an adequate number of providers for prenatal care,” Dershem said.
Dershem said it may be an individual issue for some women who don’t receive prenatal; maybe they just don’t want to drive, think they don’t need it, or just can’t afford it.
“There are still women who show up to deliver a baby without any prior maternity care … it happens every year,” she said. “But I don’t want to encourage people to do this, its not recommended and its not the safest way to have a baby.”
However, women who have or previously had addiction issues may run into a bit more of a challenge getting care because the area doesn’t have a prenatal program specializing in addiction. In which case, women would have to travel to Toledo or Columbus.
To aid in efforts to access maternity care, Brown has introduced the “Improving Access to Maternity Care Act,” which would improve shortages in rural areas and ensure access to maternity care by providing additional funding to recognized undeserved communities for specialists.
“Healthy pregnancies lead to healthy babies, and no mother-to-be should go without the care she needs,” Brown said. “One way we can and must combat this problem is to ensure mothers and mothers-to-be get the care that they need. And that’s what this bill does – it would allow us to target maternity care resources where they’re most needed, and help ensure healthier pregnancies, healthier mothers, and healthier babies.”
