Study: Missouri ranks poorly in women’s overall health and reproductive care compared to other states

A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund found that Missouri women have the most limited access to health care and experience worse outcomes than any other state in the Midwest. Missouri ranks 40th out of 51 states plus the District of Columbia in terms of women’s health and reproductive care. The study, based on 2022 data, highlighted higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, breast and cervical cancer deaths, preterm births, congenital syphilis, and depression in Missouri compared to the national average. The state also ranked poorly in access to abortion clinics and mental health among women aged 18 to 64. Despite the low rankings, there are solutions being proposed, such as a women’s health omnibus bill that failed to pass in the state legislature. The report also noted that Missouri has one of the highest percentages of women reporting poor mental health, and high rates of intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Missouri also ranked poorly in terms of insurance coverage and health care affordability, despite recent efforts to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage. The study highlighted challenges faced by safety net clinics in Missouri, with long wait times and limited access to maternity care. The study’s authors expressed concern that recent policy choices and restrictions on reproductive care could further exacerbate existing health disparities in the state.

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