{"id":27083,"date":"2020-11-05T08:20:42","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T08:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bengalnewstimes.com\/?p=27083"},"modified":"2020-11-05T08:20:42","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T08:20:42","slug":"obamacare-boosted-health-of-poor-women-before-after-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bengalnewstimes.com\/?p=27083","title":{"rendered":"Obamacare Boosted Health of Poor Women Before, After Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Latest Women’s Health News<\/h3>\n

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\"News<\/p>\n

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News)<\/p>\n

The health of low-income women before they become pregnant<\/a> has improved in states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act<\/a> (ACA<\/a>), researchers report.<\/p>\n

The time before a woman becomes pregnant<\/a> is critical for her health and that of her infant, but many poor women don’t have health insurance during this important period, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n

Their study compared 10 major pre-pregnancy<\/a> health indicators for low-income women in states that expanded Medicaid and those that did not, and found that expansion was associated with significant improvements in three of those indicators.<\/p>\n

There was an increase in pre-conception<\/a> health counseling, which is important in reducing risk factors associated with mother and infant health problems.<\/p>\n

The study also found that Medicaid expansion was associated with an increase in women’s daily folic acid<\/a> intake before pregnancy<\/a>, something that’s recommended for all women by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to reduce newborns’ risk of neural tube defects<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The researchers also identified increased use of effective birth control methods<\/a> after childbirth<\/a>, which may reduce the chances of unplanned pregnancies<\/a> or short lengths of time between pregnancies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There was no evidence that Medicaid expansion was associated with changes in rates of chronic health problems or health behaviors, according to the study published online Nov. 2 in the journal Health Affairs.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We hope these findings can be used to help address some of the risk factors that shape maternal and child health<\/a> in the U.S.,” study author Laura Wherry, an assistant professor of economics and public service at New York University, said in a university news release.<\/p>\n

The ACA<\/a> — also called Obamacare<\/a> — was passed in 2010. As of October, 36 states and the District of Columbia had expanded Medicaid and health care access for the poor.<\/p>\n

More information<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more on pre-pregnancy health, go to the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development<\/a><\/p>\n

SOURCE: New York University, news release, November 2020<\/p>\n

Robert Preidt<\/p>\n

\"MedicalNews\"
Copyright \u00a9 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n


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