Health

Black Women Disproportionately Affected By Disparity in Access to Abortion

Natalie C. Hockaday WI Staff Writer

The right to choose – a subject that has resumed its debate in politics with butting heads from those who oppose abortion and those who support choice has festered more controversy since new term-limit restrictions became law in Texas in September.

“Just because something is a right does not make it a reality, particularly when speaking about economically and socially disadvantaged people who don’t have the privilege that some of us have,” said Dr. Serena Floyd, medical director, Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington, D.C. [PPMW].

“So, regardless of the legal right, if you are an individual with a low income or living in a rural area, if you are a BIPOC [Black, Indigenous or person of color] individual, someone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, if you are a young person that right to abortion really doesn’t mean anything if you can’t access the care either where you live or elsewhere,” Dr. Floyd said.

She said about half of the people who identify as women who receive abortions are Black and about one-infive women are Hispanic, patients are generally 20 to 29 years old followed by those 30 to 34 years old.

PPMW has three locations, one in the District and two in Maryland. Just over 50 percent of their patients live 100% under the federal poverty level,

5 (Courtesy photo)

meaning that for a family of four patients earn $26,500 dollars per year or less, according to HealthCare.gov.

“People need abortions for many reasons. But at the end of the day regardless of the reason, everyone has a right to control their body which allows them to control their life and their future,” Dr. Floyd said.

The debate has fueled more national attention in recent months and left people like Janna Parker, a pro-choice activist from Maryland, disappointed with the instability of policies.

“It’s disappointing that we’re fighting something that was established several years ago for the betterment of women’s health,” Parker said. “There are definitely people on both sides of the position that feel as though their opinion and their space is right about this. But the focal point has to be about the person who is carrying this child, the situation surrounding it and their choice to continue on with that particular process in regard to pregnancy.”

Most of the people who receive abortions at PPMW pay out of pocket, Dr. Floyd noted and the cost of this service does not come cheap. Options for patients include the abortion pill (around $500) or a medical procedure whose cost does not remain fixed.

“We know abortion is safe. It has a less than one percent complication rate, especially when we’re talking about the first trimester which is when approximately 90% of abortions occur. We’ve also known that abortion is safe even beyond the first trimester. And it’s important to highlight that it’s safer than carrying a pregnancy to term and that we know from evidence,” Dr. Floyd said. Dr. Floyd said financial assistance remains available with programs at PPMW and in the community that help with abortion payments and at times fees for the service may be waved at the discretion of the provider.

“The perception is this is an issue that only affects white women but the reality is it [particularly] impacts women of color [and] and the poor, period. It is an economic reality that, to access reproductive contraception and maternal health, there is a racial disparity,” said Melanie Campbell, President/ CEO, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] released in 2019, 53.4% of those who had an abortion were Black women. Within the U.S., Black women held the highest percentage among other races and ethnicities in 2019, according to the CDC.

“I think when you talk about abortion and Black women, there are other parts you have to bring into this space,” Parker said. “The argument of women having control over their bodies for Black women in America has been going on since we stepped foot on this land. This is not a conversation of Black America that is new. It is a conversation that is new in the context of how one would view it.”

Floyd maintains abortion should remain an individual decision.

“The decision about whether and when to become a parent is deeply personal and is one that should only be up to an individual, their partner, their family, regardless of where they are in their pregnancy. Individuals need to be in charge of their medical decisions throughout their pregnancy and they need to have the freedom to make decisions and consultations with the provider based on their own unique circumstances,” Dr. Floyd said.

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MOORE from Page 13

new forms of public transportation.

“It is much harder to build a third party. Voters, given the stakes involved, often see voting for a third party as throwing away their vote,” Segal, who currently works as a director of a non-profit organization called The Peace Consultancy, said in a statement. “And even in a safe election, if there is a Democratic victory in the offing, progressive voters want to be part of it.”

The other Democratic candidates include: former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III; former nonprofit executive Jon Baron; former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler; Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot; and former Obama Administration official Ashwani Jain.

The four Republican candidates include: Del. Daniel Cox, who represents portions of Carroll and Frederick counties; perennial candidate Robin Ficker; state Commerce Secretary Kelli Schultz; and Joe Werner of Baltimore County.

David Lashar of Annapolis represents the Libertarian Party and the 14th gubernatorial candidate.

Candidates have until Feb. 22 to declare their candidacy.

Besides the $2 million from his campaign reported early this year, Eberly said Franchot has one major advantage leading up to the June 28 primary: name recognition.

“In many respects, there are few things that can quite compare to someone going in to vote and seeing a name on the ballot that they recognize and for whom they voted for in the past,” he said. “The office may change, but the familiarity with the candidate doesn’t.”

WI @jabariwill

HEALTH

Omicron Variant Continues to Spread During the Holidays

Natalie C. Hockaday WI Staff Writer

As the winter begins, the COVID-19 Omicron variant’s rapid surge has the nation in a heightening sense of fear and trepidation with many saying, “No, not again.”

In a blog posted by Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutions of Health, he said there remain several means of protection against the Omicron variant with current vaccines. However, he further explained, “there appears to be a significant decline in neutralizing antibodies against this variant in people who have received two shots of an mRNA vaccine.”

Those who receive the booster shot, or third shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, have been deemed better protected as it will help prevent those who are fully vaccinated from getting a breakthrough infection, Dr. Collins further explained.

The Omicron Variant which was discovered in South Africa in November has spread around the world with 22 states reporting cases of the Omicron variant as of Dec. 8, according to the CDC.

It is still unknown how much easily the variant may spread compared to the Delta variant and whether those who have the Omicron variant are able to spread it to others regardless of vaccination status and symptoms. The CDC further stated that current vaccines will protect people from experiencing severe illness, hospitalization and death from the Omicron variant but breakthrough cases are still likely for those fully vaccinated.

In a statement released by Pfizer and BioNTech, they suggest that a third dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine neutralizes the Omicron variant and that only two doses of the vaccine “show significantly reduced neutralization titers.”

“Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO, Pfizer.

Earlier this month, DC Health confirmed the first four cases of the Omicron variant in DC. All four cases were people who were fully vaccinated but whose booster status was unknown.

On Dec. 17, Bowser urged those who aren’t vaccinated to get vaccinated and for those who are feeling sick to “stay home.” Bowser also re-invoked a mask mandate, requiring people to wear masks indoors in public areas.

“If you are going to social events, you might want to think about if you need to go or not. Limit those events. Stay in a closer bubble. Wear a mask indoors, that includes in public spaces [and] that includes in private homes and other settings where you’re not sure,” Bowser said.

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B:8.75" T:8.75"

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