Study: Fewer Doctors Are Offering Abortions

When I see news like this it reminds me how MUCH more difficult it is to find a doctor willing to provide abortions for women who live in rural areas of the US.

For women seeking an abortion, finding a doctor willing to offer the procedure is easier said than done.
http://capsules.kaiserhealthnews.org/index.php/2011/08/study-a-declining-share-of-ob-gyns-offer-abortions/

Only 1 in 7 Ob/Gyns Do Abortions, Survey Finds

http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/GeneralOBGYN/28173

Health Care Cuts will impact Rural Community in 2012

http://www.dailyyonder.com/preparing-health-care-cuts/2011/08/22/3486

Telemedicine and abortion: Study finds procedure is safe

There have been 5 states so far who have significant rural communities, who have passed legislation to restrict the use of medication abortion via telemedicine. These articles highlight the research done to show that it is a safe procedure and it benefits women in remote locations. More importantly, this research will expose the criticisms of abortion via telemedicine for what they really - an attack on telemedicine because of moral and political opposition to abortion.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43828311/ns/health/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43830382/ns/health/

http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2011/07/19/with-law-on-hold-availability-of-nonsurgical-abortions-continues-%E2%80%94-for-now/

Rural youth have something to say

I am encouraged by the statement of rural youth in this blog post from Daily Yonder for the future of rural communities. I am looking forward to see what comes down the pike as they understand healthcare for women and families will be something they need to have vibrant lives.

"We demand of ourselves a proactive and invested community that has quality healthcare, adequate housing, and enlightened education in a safe and sustainable environment. Where no person goes thirsty, hungry, or homeless, and every person is accepted no matter who your momma is. All these things done with love tell the story of our future in rural communities."

http://www.dailyyonder.com/we-demand-ourselves/2011/06/30/3407

Chipping away at telemedicine for women

I have posted articles on this blog before that talk about the promise of telemedicine in rural communities. That is one of the many reasons this article in the Des Moines Register is so upsetting. I realize that rural women have been mentioned  quite a bit in many of the current abortion policy and restriction battles. However, rural women are not just a convenient group to point to,  they are real people who will feel the impact of this limitation on telemedicine.

Pregnant women in rural areas struggle to find healthcare no matter what they choose to do

This blog post from Daily Yonder describes the impact of closing maternity wards in rural areas.  Women in rural areas have very few options when it comes to the issues they face in pregnancy: abortion, still birth, miscarriage, pre-natal care and even a place to deliver the baby. Why are we choosing to leave women of reproductive age with little to no health care options when it comes to pregnancy?