Assessing The Impact Of Reversing Roe V. Wade On The Mental Health Outcomes Of Women In Georgia
Abstract
Introduction: In June 2022, the US Supreme Court's overturned Roe v. Wade revoking the constitutional protection for first-trimester abortion. Previous studies have cited that hindering access to reproductive health care including abortion care can have profound impacts on maternal health outcomes, including emotional and physical consequences.
Objective: This study aims to investigate whether the overturning of Roe v Wade increased mental health distress for women in Georgia.
Methods: Utilizing data from female respondents to the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we conducted a comparative analysis of mental health indicators among women in Georgia. The exposure of interest was participation prior to the overturning of Roe (January through June) compared to (July or after) and the outcome of interest was 14 or more days of reported frequent mental health distress
Results: The 2022 BRFSS sample included 5,054 women in Georgia,. 2,422 participated in January through June and 2,632 participated in July or after, 4,293 had fewer than 14 days of mental health distress and 761 had 14 or more. A crude logistic model showed an OR = 0.97 (95% CI 0.83, 1.14), while a model adjusted for age, race, education, and income showed an OR = 1.02 (0.85, 1.22). In both models, the odds of women reporting 14 or more days of frequent mental health distress was not statistically significantly different between the pre and post overturning period..
Discussion: Further research is needed to determine the impact of access to reproductive care on mental health outcomes for women in Georgia. While our analysis showed no statistically significant association between the reversal of Roe v. Wade and mental health, it is possible that women may be affected differently based upon their age, reproductive status, and access to reproductive care.
Keywords
Women's Mental Health, Abortion Access, Reproductive Care
Assessing The Impact Of Reversing Roe V. Wade On The Mental Health Outcomes Of Women In Georgia
Introduction: In June 2022, the US Supreme Court's overturned Roe v. Wade revoking the constitutional protection for first-trimester abortion. Previous studies have cited that hindering access to reproductive health care including abortion care can have profound impacts on maternal health outcomes, including emotional and physical consequences.
Objective: This study aims to investigate whether the overturning of Roe v Wade increased mental health distress for women in Georgia.
Methods: Utilizing data from female respondents to the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), we conducted a comparative analysis of mental health indicators among women in Georgia. The exposure of interest was participation prior to the overturning of Roe (January through June) compared to (July or after) and the outcome of interest was 14 or more days of reported frequent mental health distress
Results: The 2022 BRFSS sample included 5,054 women in Georgia,. 2,422 participated in January through June and 2,632 participated in July or after, 4,293 had fewer than 14 days of mental health distress and 761 had 14 or more. A crude logistic model showed an OR = 0.97 (95% CI 0.83, 1.14), while a model adjusted for age, race, education, and income showed an OR = 1.02 (0.85, 1.22). In both models, the odds of women reporting 14 or more days of frequent mental health distress was not statistically significantly different between the pre and post overturning period..
Discussion: Further research is needed to determine the impact of access to reproductive care on mental health outcomes for women in Georgia. While our analysis showed no statistically significant association between the reversal of Roe v. Wade and mental health, it is possible that women may be affected differently based upon their age, reproductive status, and access to reproductive care.
