Iowa’s abortion ban is having a devastating impact on healthcare access for all people in the state. Studies continually show that states that have abortion bans have higher rates of maternal mortality and Iowa is no exception.
- A study by the March of Dimes found that one-third of Iowa counties are maternal care deserts, which means they have no maternity wards, no OB/GYNs, and no birthing centers.
- Sixty-one percent of rural Iowa hospitals have no labor and delivery services.
- Iowa has the fewest OB-GYNS per capita out of any state in the nation.
- 41.4 percent of Iowa women live in counties where they cannot access reproductive care services and live with “very high or high vulnerability” to adverse outcomes such as unexpected pregnancy, preterm birth, anxiety, and depression.
- Iowa’s maternal mortality rate is rising.
- Maternal mortality for Black Iowans is one of the highest in the nation.
- And a recent study out of Texas shows that abortion restrictions increase infant mortality.