(Gray News) – A report released Thursday lists which states rank the best and worst for women’s health.
Researchers at the Commonwealth Fund collected data from various sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on healthcare quality, outcomes and access for women in the United States.
Massachusetts came in the top spot overall, followed by Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Mississippi had the lowest score overall, followed by Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Deaths from all causes including pregnancy, treatable chronic conditions and substance abuse among women between the ages of 15 to 44 are the highest in southeastern states.
Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana have the highest maternal death rates. Vermont, California and Connecticut have the lowest rates. Nationally, the maternal death rates are highest among Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women.
The most frequently reported cause of preventable pregnancy-related death is mental health conditions, according to the report.
States that screened for postpartum depression at the highest rates had the lowest rates of postpartum depression, according to the report.
Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma have the highest number of uninsured women ages 15 to 44. Massachusetts, Washington D.C and Vermont have the lowest uninsured rates. Nearly 800,000 women are uninsured, according to the report.
According to the report, the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June 2022 has altered access to reproductive health care services and how providers can treat pregnancy complications in the 21 states that ban or restrict abortion access.
According to the report, women’s life expectancy in the U.S. is the lowest since 2006.
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