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Shreya Kay

Health

The Effect of The Overturning of Roe vs. Wade on Women’s Health

by Shreya Kay
3 mins read

 

According to a BBC news article titled Roe v. Wade: What is US Supreme Court ruling on abortion?, Roe v. Wade was a landmark court case passed by the United States Supreme Court in the l900s, which protected a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy, otherwise known as abortion. The court case was primarily centered around Norma McCorvey (who used the pseudonym “Jane Roe”) who challenged the abortion laws in her home state (Texas) in 1969, claiming that she had the right to abortion, and that she had been raped. Unfortunately, the case was rejected, and she was forced to give birth. Later, in 1975, a woman in Georgia, Sandra Bensing, appealed to the court with a similar case. Soon, the case made its way to the Supreme Court, where the Court voted in favor of Bensing and McCorvey, stating that the right to terminate their pregnancy was protected under the Constitution.

 

On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court voted to overturn the case. Twenty-six states are estimated to either certainly ban abortion, or be extremely likely to ban abortion. This article will breifly explore the effect of restricting abortion on women’s health.

 

Amy Roeder, part of Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public health, details the scope of this issue in an article. “According to the World Health Organization, 23,000 women die from unsafe abortions each year and tens of thousands more experience significant health complications globally,” says Roeder. “A recent study estimated that banning abortion in the U.S. would lead to a 21% increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths overall and a 33% increase among Black women, simply because staying pregnant is more dangerous than having an abortion. Increased deaths due to unsafe abortions or attempted abortions would be in addition to these estimates” (Roeder, 2021).

 

In coming years, women who wish to terminate their pregnancy may seek unsafe ways to abort the baby. This could result in severe detriments to their physical health as well as a high risk of death. 

 

On the other hand, women could also choose to travel to a state that is not affected by the reversal of Roe. However, Furthermore, this would have a disproportionate effect on women of color and women living in low-income communities as they are inherently financially disadvantaged and may not be able to make the journey. 

 

Another concern caused by the reversal of Roe vs. Wade is the inability to treat certain medical cases. An example of this is an ectopic pregnancy. According to the New York Times, “… an ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the wrong place in a woman’s body. So instead of attaching to the lining of the uterus, where it can survive, it grows elsewhere” (New York Times, n.d). She must undergo surgery to remove the fetus from her body. Typically, during an ectopic pregnancy, an embryo implants itself in a woman’s fallopian tubes, which are thin and filled with blood vessels. As the embryo develops, the fallopian tubes are at risk to rupture, causing internal bleeding. 

 

If a woman experiences an ectopic pregnancy, she cannot birth the child. She must have it removed via surgery. However, after the recent reversal of Roe v. Wade, many doctors or gynecologists are hesitant to treat ectopic pregnancies as it is unclear as to whether they classify as an abortion or not. If women who experience an ectopic pregnancy are unable to receive care, the risk of death or developing severe health-related issues is extremely high.

 

In all, the reversal of Roe v. Wade has an enormous effect on women’s health, indirectly or not. 

 

For support, please visit:

https://www.wired.com/story/guide-abortion-resources-post-roe-america/

 

References

BBC. (2022, June 24). Roe v Wade: What is US Supreme Court ruling on abortion? BBC News. Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54513499 

Pearson, C. (2022, June 28). What is ectopic pregnancy? The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/article/ectopic-pregnancy-symptoms-treatment.html 

Roeder, A. (2021, December 13). The negative health implications of restricting abortion access. News. Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/abortion-restrictions-health-implications/

 
 
 

 

 

 

 
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Featured

An Analysis on The Effect of School-Based Wellness Centers in Low-Income Communities

by Shreya Kay
3 mins read

With COVID driving a rise in mental health issues affecting students, I explored the effect of school-based wellness centers on high school students and discussed how and why they should be implemented in low-income communities if not already offered.

 

According to a study by Stacy Hodgkinson PhD, living in poor or low-income households is linked to poor health and an increased risk for mental health problems in both children and adults that can persist across their life spans. Despite this noted need for mental health services, children and families living in poverty are least likely to access high-quality mental health care (Hodgkinson et. al, 2017). Compared to people living in middle or high-income communities, students living in low-income communities are inherently disadvantaged due to a lack of mental health resources, which may result in them developing major psychological issues, such as generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder (MDD). Furthermore, some researchers have found that a fear of stigma is a fundamental cause of health inequalities, demonstrated by poverty stigma is associated with poor mental health among lower income groups (Knifton & Inglis, 2020). Though students in low-income communities are more prone to developing mental health related issues as they develop, they may not choose to seek out care due to its lack of affordability, accessibility, and the overall stigma they attach to such care. 

 

While these individuals are at a significant disadvantage, school-based wellness centers can serve as an adequate solution to this. Saratoga High School, a public school located in the Bay Area of California, provides a wellness center as a place where students can take short breaks during class, connect with their strengths, and receive mental health support (Saratoga High, n.d.). Such centers, located within high schools, could eliminate issues of accessibility and affordability of mental health resources as they would be available on-demand for all students. Additionally, the stigma surrounding receiving mental health among lower-income students could be reduced, as students see peers utilizing wellness centers services and may feel comfortable using such services themselves.

 

In all, I believe wellness centers should be implemented in lower-income high schools. Teenage mental health is an incredibly important issue, which should not be ignored, and the growing value of wellness centers can help nullify this issue to some extent.

 

References

Hodgkinson, S., Godoy, L., Beers, L. S., & Lewin, A. (2017). Improving Mental Health Access for Low- Income Children and Families in the Primary Care Setting. Pediatrics, 139(1), e20151175. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-1175

Knifton, L., & Inglis, G. (2020). Poverty and mental health: policy, practice and research implications. BJPsych bulletin, 44(5), 193–196. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2020.78

Wellness center. Wellness Center. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2022, from https://www.saratogahigh.org/student_life/wellness_center#:~:text=The%20Wellness%20Center%20is %20a,%2D%20receive%20mental%20health%20suppor

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HealthLife

Social Determinants of Health & Effect on Allergy Asthma Victims

by Shreya Kay
3 mins read


As an individual who struggled with food allergies for a major part of my life, I chose to investigate the impact of social determinants of health on individuals with allergies and asthma.

 

In general, health disparities occur when there is a difference in health outcomes between populations. Healthy People 2020 has defined health disparities as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion”.

 

According to the Allergy & Asthma Network, social determinants of health (SDOH) is a broad term describing “conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks”. These factors include socioeconomic status, education, the neighborhoods and physical environments in which people live, employment opportunities, social support, and access to health care. These factors can impact the physical and mental health of individuals, as well as their ability to manage chronic conditions. Access to quality educational and employment opportunities, physically and environmentally safe neighborhoods, ability to afford and obtain food, access to culturally competent health care, and social support systems are all crucial to health. Without access to quality education, people may be less likely to obtain steady employment with a decent income and access to health insurance. This may contribute to affording safe (both physically and environmentally) housing and the ability to afford and access healthy foods. People may have to choose between food and housing over getting medical care and medications. Unfortunately, the emergence of COVID-19 has highlighted how social determinants of health are a major issue adversely affecting many populations.

 

When considering asthma and allergies, these are both conditions that require ongoing care and maintenance to maintain adequate control. Medication compliance is important to manage both asthma and allergies, but people may not use medications as directed or may ration them if they can’t afford the cost. This occurs with maintenance medications such as inhalers or rescue medications like quick-relief inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors. Finances, as well as limited or no transportation may also cause patients to delay or forgo follow-up with their doctors. Some people may also live in an area where a lung doctor or allergist may not be readily available. Urban environments may have substandard housing with more exposure to asthma and allergy triggers such as mold, dust mites, mice, cockroaches, and pollution. Cultural and language barriers can also play a role in understanding health information, such as how to use an inhaler correctly. Even access to allergen-free food may be a barrier for patients due to cost or just lack of options for obtaining groceries.

 

References

Allergy & Asthma Network, Asthma Disparities and Health Inequities, accessed at allegyasthmanetwork.org. Davis CM, Apter AJ, Casillas A, Foggs MB, Louisias M, Morris EC, Nanda A, Nelson MR, Ogbogu PU, Walker-McGill CL, Wang J, Perry TT. Health disparities in allergic and immunologic conditions in racial and ethnic underserved populations: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Committee on the Underserved. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021 May;147(5):1579-1593. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.02.034. Epub 2021 Mar 10. PMID: 33713767. Disparities. Disparities | Healthy People 2020. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2022, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Disparities

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