By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    health navigators
    What Is a “Navigator”?
    July 17, 2013
    “Stunning Progress” but OOPs! in Afghanistan
    December 23, 2011
    physicians and medicare payments
    Physician Payments: The Not-So-Secret Secret
    August 9, 2013
    Latest News
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Unintended Pregnancy: A Biomarker for Disease and Poverty
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > Unintended Pregnancy: A Biomarker for Disease and Poverty
Global HealthcarePublic Health

Unintended Pregnancy: A Biomarker for Disease and Poverty

gooznews
Last updated: February 13, 2012 10:46 am
gooznews
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops proved in its late Friday statement opposing President Obama’s compromise plan on contraceptive services that it cares as little about science as it does about women’s health. “All the other mandated ‘preventive services’ prevent disease, and pregnancy is not a disease (emphasis in the original),” the Bishops’ statement said.

The U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops proved in its late Friday statement opposing President Obama’s compromise plan on contraceptive services that it cares as little about science as it does about women’s health. “All the other mandated ‘preventive services’ prevent disease, and pregnancy is not a disease (emphasis in the original),” the Bishops’ statement said.

Wrong. Pregnancy obviously isn’t a disease, but there are very distinct, measurable and negative consequences for the health and well-being of the mothers and children that result from unwanted pregnancies. “Births resulting from unintended or closely spaced pregnancies are associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes, such as delayed prenatal care, premature birth and negative physical and mental health effects for children,” the Guttmacher Institute reports on its fact sheet on the issue.

Further, in what ought to be of some interest to abortion opponents, unintended pregnancies heighten the risk of abortion.  Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unplanned, and over 5 percent of American women of child-bearing age (18 to 44) have unintended pregnancies every year — one of the highest rates in the industrialized world.  Yet 42 percent of those pregnancies end in abortion. Moreover, the rates of unintended pregnancy are significantly higher for poor and minority women, where the lifelong consequences of poor maternal and child health make escaping poverty that much more difficult.

More Read

FDA and 23andMe
23andMe Suspends Genetic Testing During Review Process
Time to Reevaluate – When to Use a New Technology vs. When to Die with Dignity
Do You Know What’s in Your Pain Pill?
Emergency Physicians Give Emergency Care in America a D+
How to Prepare Yourself for a Job in the Healthcare Industry

So saying “pregnancy is not a disease” entirely misses the point. Contraception prevents unwanted pregnancies, which may not be a disease, but are definitely a biomarker of disease.

As a thought experiment, let’s apply the bishops’ logic to the other prevention services with which they have no quarrel. Would they oppose paying for pills that lower cholesterol? Nobody ever died from elevated cholesterol. It is a biomarker that can lead to clogged arteries, which can cause heart attacks and strokes, sometimes fatal. But cholesterol itself?

How about programs to promote quitting smoking? Everyone knows that cigarettes “cause” lung cancer. But in fact we only know that from epidemiological studies that have shown an association between the activity — smoking — and the outcome — cancer.

There is sound epidemiological evidence showing that unwanted pregnancies lead to worse health outcomes. Contraception prevents unwanted pregnancies. That’s why every health insurers should provide coverage for contraception as part of its suite of highly-rated preventive services at no cost to plan beneficiaries. The president said organizations with religious or moral objections to the use of contraception don’t have to pay for it. That policy should have been satisfactory — unless the bishops’ real goal was to impose their morality on everyone else.

TAGGED:contraceptionunintended pregnancy
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025
healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Japan’s Nuclear Fallout: The Health Impact

March 15, 2011

Social Media Office Visits and Mobile Apps

March 8, 2012

Californians’ Attitudes and Experiences with Death and Dying

February 16, 2012
Image
Public HealthWellness

How to Beat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

January 24, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?