Currently in the United States, liberal politicians are experiencing the consequences of advocating for health care reform that improves quality of life: a loss of 63 seats in the House and six in the Senate. In thanks for passing a piece of legislation that extends health insurance to thousands who were previously ineligible, pays for medication that was otherwise unaffordable, and asks employers to take responsibility for the health of their workers, the Democratic party and the Obama administration have been handed a “do not pass go, do not collect $200” card by the American voters. Rather than making progress, we will now make compromises; compromises that compromise women’s health.
Many people are talking about the National Women’s Law Center’s recently published report card on women’s health, which indicates that women across the country are experiencing declining health in several arenas. The good news is that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act addresses many of the issues that the NWLC notes as problematic, implying that there is great potential to improve the status of women’s health before the next report. The bad news is that when it comes to women’s health, the U.S. still generates among the very worst statistics of all developed nations. And unless we are able to progress toward increased funding for preventative care and services, more holistic views of well-being throughout the life cycle, and policies that respect a person’s right to make informed decisions about his/her health, we will continue to drop in the international ratings.
The U.S.’s policy on maternity leave (or lack thereof) is a perfect representation of our nation’s continued ignorance, inaction and irresponsibility when it comes to the health of women and their families. Because this policy encompasses so many different factors that add up to general well-being – physical and emotional health of parent and child, access to information and education, economic security and development of a community among other things – it is a reflection of our priorities when it comes to health.
The U.S. is still one of the only countries in the world with no law requiring employers to offer women paid maternity leave, and we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates (relative to GDP) to show for it. Compare these statistics below:
Sweden:
Maternity Leave Policy: 450 days paid parental leave; 360 days at 75 percent, and 90 days flat rate
Maternal Mortality Rate (2008): 4.6/100,000
Infant Mortality Rate (2009): 2.75/1,000 live births
Austria:
Maternity Leave Policy: 16 weeks at 100 percent pay
Maternal Mortality Rate: 5.5/100,000
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.42/1,000 live births
United States:
Maternity Leave Policy: 12 weeks, no pay
Maternal Mortality Rate: 16.6/100,000
Infant Mortality Rate: 6.26/1,000
* Sources: University of Washington Department of Global Health (2008); Maternity Protection ILO Convention; CIA World Factbook (2009).
The U.S. is ranked 39th in the world in terms of maternal mortality. Because maternal health so closely reflects the level of education and access to health services in a country, and it predicts a child’s ability to thrive and the economic well-being of a community, we cannot beat around the Bush-era policies when it comes to caring for women. This morning, federal judges ruled "Obamacare" as unconstitutional, sending it to the courts for debate and opening it to the GOP's merciless attempts to dismantling what a majority of Americans view as good policy.While this election cycle may have placed our nation in standby mode when it comes to progressive policy, if we want to improve our nation’s unsatisfactory grade in women’s health, we must continue to fight for the crucial policies that protect and empower women and families. If we must compromise to ensure progress, then let's do so. But then we must move forward and tackle issues that will have widespread and lasting effects on the status of women's health, whether it is maternity leave, well-woman testing, nutrition, economic security or something else completely.
Please feel free to comment below on what you believe are the most crucial areas of women's health to focus on in upcoming years. And stay tuned for more information on what is being done at the state level.