Obstetric care access is declining in states across the country. Between 2010 and 2022, seven states had at least a quarter of their hospitals stop providing obstetric services.
Katy Kozhimannil
Number of U.S. hospitals offering obstetric care is declining
Intimate partner violence before or during pregnancy more common among rural residents
Nearly half of pregnant people experiencing intimate partner violence are not screened for it before or after pregnancy
The findings of the study imply a critical need for increased access to care for all pregnant people, especially those at highest risk of IPV who may also experience barriers to care because of racism, bias, financial constraints, distance to care, and other factors.
Students Publish Health Policy Op-Eds
Students in Katy Kozhimannil’s course, Principles of Health Policy, are required to write and submit Op-Eds for publication in local and regional news outlets.
Rural residents at greater risk of maternal morbidity and mortality compared to urban residents
The study led by Associate Professor Katy Kozhimannil showed there were approximately 4,378 more cases of severe maternal morbidity and mortality among rural women than urban women.
Providing culturally sensitive pregnancy care to black women
Research by PhD student J’Mag Karbeah identified key culturally sensitive values and practices among providers at a successful freestanding birth center serving a diverse urban community.
Kozhimannil, Attanasio Earn Best Research Article from Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health
The study by SPH graduate Laura Attanasio and Associate Professor Katy Kozhimannil examined data on hospital-based births in New York state in 2014 and found that hospitals with more midwife-attended births had lower rates of cesarean birth and episiotomy among low-risk women.
Commentary: Include People of Color, Indigenous Populations in Rural Health Discussions
A commentary written by Associate Professor Katy Kozhimannil and Assistant Professor Carrie Henning-Smith points out that one-in-five rural residents is a person of color or Indigenous person, and the communities where they reside often face the greatest health risks.
Structural Factors Shape the Effects of the Opioid Epidemic on Pregnant Women and Infants
A commentary by Associate Professor Katy Kozhimannil says addressing the well-being of infants with opioid-affected births requires renewed efforts to prevent, detect, and treat opioid use disorders among mothers.
Opioid-affected Births to Rural Residents are Increasing in Both Rural and Urban Hospitals
A study by Associate Professor Katy Kozhimannil shows that more than 60 percent of rural moms with opioid use disorder give birth in local hospitals that may have more limited capacity to care for them and their babies.
Kozhimannil Joins Women’s Health Issues Editorial Board
Associate Professor Katy Kozhimannil joins the journal dedicated to providing important information on women’s health for researchers, health professionals, social scientists, policymakers, and others.
