The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization will have a major impact on access to health care. Thirteen states have abortion bans designed to immediately go into effect (trigger bans), while another 13 states are likely to enact bans in the near future. Community health centers in these 26 ban or likely-to-ban states provide for a large share of maternity care and primary care for women of reproductive age (15-44). In the wake of a state ban, the need for maternal and child health services at health centers can be expected to rise.
The infogrpahic shows the percentage of women who are served by community health centers in states that have trigger banned abortion or are likely to ban. 7.4 million women recrived health center care nationwide, out of which 3 million were in one of the 26 ban or likely-to-ban states. 1 in 10 births among low income families have deliveries with health center providers. 1 in 6 low-income families receive prenatal care at health centers. 72% of the prenatal care patients in the 26 ban or likely-to-ban states were people of color. None of the 26 states meet adeqaute staffing requirement ratio of 1-to-1,500, with 9 of the states having a sever shortage of 1-to-6,000 or above.
