Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the bill that protected the reproductive freedom of women within the United States, Black women, especially those who live in rural areas, have become disproportionately at risk. Unbiased maternal health was already impacting Black women’s health outcomes at a higher rate. That’s in addition to poverty, food deserts and housing insecurity playing significant roles too.
Each of these factors impacts the livelihood quality that Black women experience. MoneyGeek published an article that includes lists of the best and worst cities that are protecting Black women’s health. Through their analysis of Census data, they determined that Black women’s health outcomes are best protected in these eight cities.
Where Can Black Women Live with Minimal Health Outcome Gaps?
Now a country with only a fragmented legal right to abortion, knowing the cities where Black women’s reproductive freedom is best protected is especially important. Black women are more likely to live in contraception deserts and reproductive health deserts.
These factors, in addition to the ones mentioned above, were considered when MoneyGeek analyzed the Census data. They determined that, out of the 500 cities with a population of 65,000 people, 164 cities best protected Black women.
Additionally, these are the eight cities where health insurance gaps between other communities and Black women are minimal.
- Southfield, Michigan
- Pearland, Texas
- Carson, California
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
- Norwalk, Connecticut
- Garland, Texas
- Mansfield, Texas
- Missouri City, Texas
Anti-Abortion Laws Impact Black Women’s Health Outcomes
Still, there are states where abortions remain illegal and many of the cities where Black women have access to better health care fall within those states. Access to abortions range within every state between “accessible” and “most accessible” to “severely restricted” and “eliminated.”
Michigan requires parental consent for abortions whereas California has pretty wide access (although it differs amongst state regions). Florida banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, requiring parental consent and a 24-hour waiting period after submitting the request. And access to abortions in Texas has been eliminated.
Planned Parenthood’s website is one of many that is tracking abortion accessibility throughout the country.
Best of the 8 for Better Health Outcomes for Black Women
Carson, California is where the health outcome gap for Black women is minimal and where their reproductive freedom is best protected. And even with that being said, as mentioned above, access to health care for Black women differs between regions of the state. Rural areas, like many urban areas, are known to be contraception, maternal health and food deserts. Black women’s health outcomes deserve the attention of our presidential candidates, or they’ll continue to suffer in their health and in all other areas of their lives.