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Religion, Poverty, and Politics: Their Impact on Women's Reproductive Health Outcomes
Author(s) -
Kimball Richard,
Wissner Michael
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12196
Subject(s) - poverty , politics , reproductive health , public health , political science , medicine , sociology , gender studies , environmental health , nursing , population , law
Objective This study sought to explore the relationship(s) between U.S. states of selected social determinants of health ( SDH ) and three women's reproductive health outcomes including abortion, teen births, and infant mortality rates ( IMR ). Design and Sample The data from multiple population surveys were used to establish on a state‐by‐state basis, the interactions between selected SDH (religion, voting patterns, child poverty, and GINI ) and their policy effects on three women's reproductive health outcomes (abortion, teen births, and IMR s) using publicly available national databases. Measures Child poverty rates and the GINI coefficient were analyzed. Religiosity information was obtained from the Pew Forum's surveys. Voting results were collected from the 2008 congressional and presidential races and were used as proxy measures for conservative‐ versus liberal‐leaning policies and policy makers. Results Using multiple regression analysis, higher IMR s were associated with higher religiosity scores. Lower abortion rates were associated with voting conservatively and higher income inequality. Higher teen birth rates were associated with higher child poverty rates and voting conservatively. Conclusions This study shows that selected SDH may have substantial impacts on women's reproductive health outcomes at the state level. Significant inequalities exist between liberal and conservative states that affect women's health outcomes.