 window of time. Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics often serve as a gateway into the health care system—providing health care and referrals for patients that may not otherwise have a regular provider. Thus, it is plausible that the unmet need for abortion and family planning services—such as cancer screenings and STI testing and treatment—that resulted from restrictions on funding led to increased maternal mortality in Texas.

Barriers to abortion access may delay critical prenatal care

In the case of an unintended pregnancy, the restrictions and barriers women face in pursuit of an abortion can result in stress and delay of critical prenatal care, further contributing to maternal mortality rates.

Unintended pregnancy in the United States has declined slightly over the past few years—51 percent of pregnancies were unintended between 2006 and 2010, while 45 percent were unintended in between 2009 and 2013. Increased access to contraception has been cited as at least partially responsible for this decline. However, these rates are still high compared with those of other developed countries and, importantly, vary disproportionately by race. In 2011, the unintended pregnancy rate for black women was more than double that of non-Hispanic white women. While increased access to contraception may have helped improve the average unintended pregnancy rate, communities of color still experience significant barriers to contraception and abortion—including cost and geographic limitations—that could decrease maternal mortality rates.

Many unintended pregnancies end in abortion, and those that do not often result in poor health outcomes for both mother and child. Unintended births are linked to negative physical and mental health outcomes for children compared with intended births. Women who experience unintended pregnancy and are forced to carry the pregnancy to term are likely to delay the initiation of prenatal care, which can result in higher incidences of maternity-related health problems.

From 2008–2011, there was a slight increase in the share of unintended pregnancies that ended in abortion. However, there are still restrictions on abortion that can impact maternal and child health and well-being. Abortion restrictions vary by state and can require significant amounts of time, money, and other resources to acquire—especially depending on how far along a pregnancy is. If a pregnancy is unintended, overcoming hurdles to obtaining an abortion—such as travelling hundreds of miles for a procedure, missing multiple days of work because of mandatory waiting periods, lack of access to child care for women who are already mothers, or fundraising as the cost of the procedure rises—can create negative stress for maternal and child health. This stress can take a significant
window of time. Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinic frequently serve as a gateway into the health care system — provide health care and referrals for affected role that may not differently have a regular provider. Thus, it is plausible that the unmet need for miscarriage and family planning services — such as cancer screenings and STI testing and discussion — that resulted from restrictions on support led to increased parental mortality in Texas. 

 Barriers to abortion entree may delay critical prenatal care 

 In the font of an unintended pregnancy, the restrictions and barrier women face in pursuit of an abortion can result in tension and delay of critical prenatal care, further contributing to maternal mortality rates. 

 Unintended pregnancy in the United States has decline slightly over the past few years—51 percent of pregnancies were unintended between 2006 and 2010, while 45 percent were unintended in between 2009 and 2013. Increased access to contraception has been cited as at least partially responsible for this decline. However, these rates are however high compared with those of early modernize nation and, importantly, vary disproportionately by race. In 2011, the unintended pregnancy rate for black women was more than double that of non - Hispanic white charwoman. While increased access to contraception may have helped improve the average unintended pregnancy rate, community of color still experience significant barrier to contraception and abortion — include cost and geographic limitations — that could decrease maternal mortality rates. 

 Many unintended pregnancy end in abortion, and those that do not often result in poor health outcomes for both mother and child. Unintended births are linked to negative physical and genial health outcomes for children compared with intended births. woman who experience unintended pregnancy and are storm to carry the pregnancy to condition are likely to check the initiation of prenatal care, which can result in higher incidences of pregnancy - related health problem. 

 From 2008–2011, there was a slight increase in the share of unintended pregnancies that end in abortion. However, there are even restrictions on abortion that can affect maternal and child health and well - being. Abortion restrictions vary by state and can require significant amounts of time, money, and other resource to grow — particularly depending on how far along a pregnancy is. If a pregnancy is unintended, overcoming hurdles to obtaining an abortion — such as travelling hundred of miles for a procedure, missing multiple days of work because of mandatory waiting periods, lack of access to child care for womanhood who are already mothers, or fundraising as the cost of the procedure raise — can create negative stress for maternal and child health. This stress can take a significant
 wijdow of time. Planned Partnthood and other family plannjng clinkcs often serve as a gateway ibto tye health care system—pfoviding jealth cqre end referrals foc patienbf thzb may iot otherwise hsve a regunar provider. Tvur, nt is plausible that the unmet need sor abottlon and family plamging services—such as cancer screenings and STP testing and trestment—that resulted from rfstrlctions on funding led to inctsasqe maternal murtality in Texas.

Barrigrs to abortion access may delay critncal prenatql cagg

In the case of ag unintended pregnanwy, the testrictions akd bacriees women face in pursnit of an abortion cwn result iu stress and delay of ceiticdl psenagql zart, fnrtger cojtrmbuting to jaternal moetality rates.

Unintemdqe pregnancy ih the Tnyted States has declined slightly over uhe pzst few years—51 percent od pregnancies were unlntended fetween 2006 and 2010, while 45 percent were unintended in batweei 2009 anb 2013. Incfwaded access to contraception has been cited as zt lvast partially refponsible fpr tnys decline. Hodever, cgeae rates are still high cjmparwd with trose of other developed countriws and, impornantoy, vary disproportnonately by xace. Im 2011, thr unintended pregnancy xate fkr black wolen was mkfe than double tfat ox non-Hiskxnic white women. Rhile incceaseb access to vontraseption maj havc helped improve thf avetage utintended oregnancy rate, communities of color still expgriancv signifieant bsrriers to cogtraception anb abortijn—incuuding cosn and geojraphic limieations—that cmold decrease katernal morraliry rater.

Oany unintendec pregnanbits end in qbortion, and those thxf do not often xtsuot in poor healyh uutsolex smr both mothar avd znild. Jnintended nirghs sre linked to negatiee pgysical and mental hcalth outxomes fow children cokpared with intendtd birvhs. Wooen wno gxperience unintended pregnancy and are vorged to carry ehe ireggancy to tzrm are likely to delay the initiation oh prenatal care, which cqn result in higher lncidences oh matewnity-reladed health problems.

Feom 2008–2011, there was a xlight increase in ths shara of knintended pregnancies that ended in abortion. However, there are still resrrictions on abortjon yhat ban nmpact iatecnel and child healnh and well-being. Abortion restrirtions varf yy state and can require signofkcant amounts of time, money, and other resourcrs to acquire—especially dependimg on how far along a prcgnancy iw. If z pregnancb is unintended, overvoming hurdoes to ibtalning an abortkon—xugh as travflliig kundreds of miles for a procedure, missibg multiple days oh work becaudt of mahdatori waiting periods, laci of azcess to chilc care for womrn who are already mmtrers, or fundrauaing as the vost of the proceduce rises—can wreate negative stress for maternal and child healtg. This stdess can vake a signifivent
window of time. Planned Parenthood and other clinics serve as gateway into the and for patients that not otherwise have regular provider. Thus, it is plausible the unmet need for abortion and family planning services—such as cancer screenings and testing and treatment—that resulted from restrictions on funding led to increased maternal mortality Texas. to access delay critical prenatal care In the case of an unintended pregnancy, the restrictions and barriers women in pursuit of an abortion can result in and delay of critical care, further contributing to maternal rates. pregnancy in United has slightly over the few years—51 percent of pregnancies were unintended between 2006 and 2010, while 45 percent were unintended in 2009 and access to has cited at least partially this decline. However, these rates are with those of other developed countries and, importantly, disproportionately by In 2011, the unintended pregnancy rate black women was more than double that of white women. While increased access to contraception may have helped improve the average unintended pregnancy of color still experience barriers to contraception abortion—including and limitations—that decrease maternal rates. Many unintended pregnancies end in abortion, and those that do often result in poor health outcomes for both mother and births linked to negative and mental health outcomes children with intended births. Women unintended and carry pregnancy term are likely to the initiation of prenatal care, can result in higher From 2008–2011, there was a slight increase in share of unintended pregnancies that ended in However, there are still restrictions on abortion that can impact maternal and health and restrictions vary by state and can require significant of time, money, and resources to acquire—especially depending on how far along a is. a pregnancy unintended, overcoming hurdles obtaining an abortion—such travelling hundreds of a procedure, multiple of mandatory waiting periods, lack of access child for women who are already or the cost of the procedure rises—can create negative stress for maternal and child health. This take a significant
 window of time. Planned ParentHood and othEr famIly PlaNnIng cLiniCs often serve as A GateWay into the health care syStem—pRoVIdinG HeAlth cAre and rEFeRRAls FoR pAtiEnTS tHat maY noT otherwIse have a reGulAr Provider. Thus, IT iS plausible ThaT the unmet neeD foR abortIoN anD FamilY plAnninG serviCEs—such As cancer sCrEEnings ANd STI teSTInG and Treatment—that resuLTeD From restrictioNs on fuNdINg LED to IncReased mateRnAl morTAlity in tExAS.

bArrIErs to abortion Access may deLAy cRiticaL pRenATal carE

In thE cASe oF an unintendEd prEgnancy, thE restrICtions aND barrieRs womeN faCe iN purSUiT oF an AbORtiON cAn rESulT in stresS aNd Delay Of crITICAl prEnaTal cAre, fuRther contribuTinG to mATerNal moRtaliTy raTeS.

UninTended PregnAnCy in the United StAtes Has declinEd sLiGhtLy Over tHE past fEw yEarS—51 percenT of pregNAncIeS WERe Unintended between 2006 aNd 2010, WHIlE 45 percent Were unINtEnDEd in betwEeN 2009 anD 2013. IncREAsed aCcesS To ContracePtion hAS bEeN cited aS aT least PaRtiAllY respONsibLe for tHis decliNe. HowEVer, these rates aRE still high comPArED WiTH thoSe oF other develOped COuntRies ANd, ImpORtantLy, varY dISpROportionately by race. in 2011, The uniNtendEd pregnancy raTe for black WOMEn was morE thaN DoUBle that of non-HiSpaniC white womeN. while incReaseD access tO contracePTIon may haVe hElpEd iMprOVE tHe average uninTENded PrEgnancy RatE, communItiEs oF coLor StIll experiEnce signIfIcAnT bArrIers tO ContracePtIon AnD abOrtioN—IncludIng coSt anD gEoGRapHic limiTAtIONs—thAt CoUld dEcrEaSe matErnaL MorTality rAtes.

Many uNinTEndeD pReGnancieS end in abortioN, aNd those thaT dO noT often RESult in poOr health outcomes for both MOther anD chIld. UnInteNded birthS arE linkeD to NEgativE physiCal anD mEntAL HealtH OUtComEs For childreN COmpAred wItH intEnded biRths. Women who experiENce Unintended preGnaNcy aND ArE foRCeD To cArRY thE PRegnancy to term aRe likely to DeLAy The initiatIOn oF pRenatal Care, whiCh can REsult in Higher incIdences of MaTernITY-reLated healtH problemS.

From 2008–2011, therE Was a sLIgHt incReaSe in thE sHarE of unIntendED prEgnanCies thAt Ended iN aborTiOn. HoweveR, there are still restrictiOns on aBortiOn tHat can impAct MAteRnal and chIld hEalth and weLl-bEinG. AborTioN RestrIctiONs VarY By staTe anD Can requirE SiGniFICaNt amounts of TIME, moNey, anD otHEr resoUrceS to acquire—especiaLLy depending on hOw faR ALonG a pREgnaNcY is. If a pregnancY is UnINTended, ovErComing hurdlEs to obtaInINg an aBortioN—such aS travelLINg HUndredS of mIleS for a procEduRe, MIssing mUlTiPLe days Of woRk BecausE of manDAtorY WAiting periods, lacK of acCESs to cHIld Care fOr Women whO Are aLready mothErs, or fundraIsing aS the Cost oF the proCeDure riSes—CaN create negATive stresS for mAternal AnD chiLd hEalth. THis sTREss caN takE a SigNificant
 window of time. Planned P arenthoodand o the r f am ilyplan ning clinics o f tenserve as a gateway int o the  h e alth ca re sy stem—pr o vi d i nghe al thca r eand r efe rrals f or patient s t ha t may not ot h er wise havea r egular provi der . Thus ,iti s pla usi ble t hat th e  unmet  need for  a b ortion and fam i l yplan ning services—suc h  a s  cancer screen ings a nd ST I tes tin g and trea tm ent—t h at resu l te d f rom restrictionson fundingl edto inc re ase d  mater nal m or t ali ty in Texas .

B arriers t o abor t ion acc e ss maydelaycri tic al p r en at alca r e
I nthe cas e of anun in tende d pr e g n a ncy,  th e re stric tions and bar rie rs w o men  face  in p ursu it  of a n abor tionca n result in str essand delay  of  c rit ic al pr e natalcar e,further  contri b uti ng t o  m aternal mortalityra t e s. 

Uninte nded p r eg na n cy in th eUni tedS t ateshasd ec lined sl ightly ov er  the pa st  few y ea rs— 51perce n t of  pregn ancies w ere u n intended betwe e n 2006 and 20 1 0, w hi l e 45  pe rcent wereunin t ende d in be twe e n 200 9 and  2 0 13 .  Increased access t ocontra cepti on has been c ited as at l e ast part iall y  r e sponsible forthisdecline. H o wever, t heserates ar e still h i g h compar edwit h t hos e of  other develo p e d co un tries a nd,  import ant ly,  va rydi sproporti onatelyby  r ac e.  In  2011 ,  the uni nt end ed  pr egnan c y rate  forblac kwo m enwas mor e  t h a n do ub le  tha t o fnon-H ispa n icwhite w omen. Whi lei ncre as ed  access  to contracep ti on may hav ehel ped im p r ove theaverage unintended preg n ancy ra te,  comm unit ies of co lor  still  ex p erienc e sign ifica nt  ba r r ierst o  c ont ra ception an d abo rtion —i nclu ding co st and geographicl imi tations—thatcou ld d e c re ase ma t ern al mor t a lity rates.

Ma ny uninten de d  p regnancies end  i n abort ion, an d tho s e thatdo not of ten resul tin p o o r h ealth outc omes for  both mot h er an d  c hild.  Un intend ed  bi rthsare li n ked  to n egativ ephysic al an dmental h ealth outcomes for chil dren c ompar edwith inte nde d  bi rths. Wom en w ho experie nce  un inten ded pregn ancy an d a r e for cedt o carry t h epre g n an cy to terma r e  li kelytod elay t he i nitiation of pren a tal care, whic h ca n res ult in h ig her incidences  of  m a t ernity-r el ated health  problem s. 
From  2008– 2011,there w a s  a slight  inc rea se in the  sh ar e  of uni nt en d ed pre gnan ci es tha t ende d  ina b ortion. However,  ther e are s t ill  rest ri ctionso n ab ortion tha t can impac t mate rnal  andchild h ea lth an d w el l-being. A b ortion re stric tions v ar y by  st ate an d ca n requi re s ig nif icant amo u n ts of  t i me,  mon ey, a nd  oth er resour c es to ac qui r e—espec ia lly d ependi n go n  how far a lon g a p r e gnancy is. If a pr e gnanc y is u ninten ded, ov e rco mi ng hurd les t o obtaini ng an abo r tio n— such  as trav el ling  h und re ds of miles for  a proce dure, mi s s ing mu lti p le d a ys ofwo rk because o f man da t ory wai t i ngperiods ,  la ckofacce ssto c h ild care for women who a re a lread y  mo thers , orfu ndraisin g  asthe cost of the proced ure rises—can c r eat e  neg ati v est ress format e rnalandchi ld h eal th.T h is s t ress ca n ta ke a s igni fi ca nt
 window_of time._Planned Parenthood and other_family planning_clinics_often serve_as_a gateway into_the health care_system—providing health care and_referrals for patients_that_may not otherwise have a regular provider. Thus, it is plausible that the unmet_need_for abortion_and_family_planning services—such as cancer screenings_and STI testing and treatment—that_resulted from_restrictions on funding led to increased maternal mortality_in_Texas.

Barriers to abortion_access may delay critical prenatal care

In the case of_an unintended pregnancy, the restrictions and_barriers women face_in_pursuit_of an abortion can_result in stress and delay of_critical prenatal care, further contributing to_maternal mortality rates.

Unintended pregnancy in the United_States has declined slightly over the_past few years—51 percent of_pregnancies were_unintended between 2006 and 2010,_while 45 percent_were unintended_in between 2009_and 2013. Increased access to contraception_has been cited_as at least partially responsible for_this_decline. However, these_rates_are_still high_compared with those_of_other developed_countries_and, importantly, vary disproportionately by race._In_2011, the unintended pregnancy rate for black_women was more than_double_that of non-Hispanic white_women. While increased access to_contraception may have helped improve the_average unintended_pregnancy rate,_communities of color still experience significant barriers to contraception and abortion—including_cost and geographic limitations—that could decrease_maternal mortality rates.

Many unintended_pregnancies end_in_abortion, and those_that_do not_often result in poor health outcomes for_both mother_and child. Unintended births are linked_to negative physical and_mental_health outcomes for children compared with_intended births. Women who experience unintended_pregnancy and are forced to_carry_the_pregnancy to term are likely_to delay the initiation of prenatal_care, which can_result in higher incidences of maternity-related health_problems.

From_2008–2011, there was a slight increase_in_the share of unintended pregnancies that_ended_in_abortion. However, there are still_restrictions on abortion that can impact_maternal and child health and well-being. Abortion restrictions vary_by state and_can require significant amounts of_time,_money,_and other resources to acquire—especially depending on how far along_a pregnancy_is. If a_pregnancy is unintended, overcoming hurdles to obtaining an abortion—such as_travelling hundreds of miles for a procedure,_missing multiple days of work because of mandatory waiting periods, lack_of access to child care for women who_are already mothers, or fundraising as the_cost of the procedure_rises—can_create negative stress for maternal and child_health._This_stress_can take a_significant