Columbus, Ohio – Ahead of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine delivering his State of the State address, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio highlights how Governor DeWine’s priority to outlaw abortion and criminalize medical professionals for providing care to patients by signing the six-week abortion ban undermines his rhetoric to make Ohio a healthier, more prosperous state.  

Statement from Lauren Blauvelt-Copelin, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio:

“We anticipate to hear Governor DeWine to discuss his administrations’ proposed priorities for children. However, DeWine’s administration does not support women’s well-being, including their ability to make their own reproductive health care decisions, so they cannot stand behind their promise to do the same for children. 

“Children largely depend on women and mothers for their care. Governor DeWine’s promise to sign a dangerous six-week abortion ban will severely undercut any efforts to address Ohio’s alarming infant mortality rate, unemployment, and economic opportunity.”

Ohio ranks as one of the worst in the nation for infant mortality rates.

Coming in at having the 11th highest rate in the country of babies dying before their first birthday with black infants dying three times the rate of white infants.

When abortion is not an option, women and babies suffer. States like Ohio that have more abortion restrictions tend to have poorer health outcomes for women and children than other states, including higher rates of maternal and infant mortality.

Ohio’s unemployment rate is among one of the worst in the country, ranking 44th.

Enacting a six-week abortion ban will force people to carry a pregnancy to term, which has long-term economic consequences for women and their families. 

According to recent public health research, women who are denied an abortion are more likely than those who receive an abortion to be living in poverty, receiving public assistance, and lacking full-time employment six months after the denial. These economic consequences remain significant for years following the denial of an abortion

Economic opportunity for Ohio’s most vulnerable populations remains low, leaving many in poverty.

According to the Ohio Department of Services Agency 2019 Poverty Report, an estimated 290,000 of Ohio families are poor, with poverty highest African Americans and rural communities.

Access Reproductive health care is vital for economic security. When given access to abortion, women’s health outcomes and economic security improves. Women living in states with policies that support women’s access to health care have higher earnings and are more integrated into the workforce than women in other states.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio supports advocacy for women’s reproductive health and women’s rights, including grassroots organizing, community education, and lobbying.www.ppao.org.