Pregnancy and Rights Groups: Part 2

This morning while scoping my inspirations list I had come across another eye opening headline..

"Doubling of maternal deaths in U.S. 'scandalous,' rights group says"
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/03/12/maternal.mortality/index.html?hpt=T1
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/03/12/am.cohen.pregnancy.crisis.new.cnn

Amnesty International which is a worldwide movement who promote international human rights for all came out with statistics on maternal death rates

1987 there was 6.6 maternal deaths per 100,000 people
2006 there was 13.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 people
the US government set a goal for 4 in the 'Healthy People 2010' Report

"Good maternal care should not be considered a luxury available only to those who can access the best hospitals and the best doctors. Women should not die in the richest country on earth from preventable complications and emergencies," Cox said in a news release. -stated on the CNN website.

Amnesty International goes on to state 'a shortage of health care professionals poses a serious obstacle to timely and adequate care, especially in rural areas and inner cities. In 2008, 64 million people were living in "shortage areas" for primary care.' and also cited 'what it called "burdensome bureaucratic procedures in Medicaid enrollment [that] substantially delay access to vital prenatal care for pregnant women seeking government-funded care."'

That hit home for me. I am one of those 64 million people. I'm not pregnant but if I were to become pregnant I'm the person who lives in the shortage area. I make 'too much' on unemployment and a part time job to receive Medicaid but I don't make enough to get health insurance. This is SCARY folks!

do comment!