research and Global health NOV 7

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*** This sample was adapted from a Monroe College student’s final paper. ***

Discussion

Introduction to Discussion

Women’s reproductive health is in jeopardy specifically in relation to restrictions to

abortion and prenatal health services. These limitations continue to be an expanding issue for

pregnant and adolescent women, ultimately resulting in life long physical, emotional, and mental

health implications for both mothers and their children (Janighorban et al., 2021). Studies

(Janighorban et al., 2021; Pabayo et al., 2020) have shown there are implications for the children

born in areas with restrictive laws and limitations to sexual reproductive health services and

education, such as an increased risk of infant morbidity and mortality. The long-term impacts on

children in areas where abortion is completely banned impedes on socioeconomic status long-

term or indefinitely, and children born to teen and adolescent mothers were more likely to be

teen parents and less likely to seek higher education (Hajdu et al., 2021). Besides the bestowed

children under these conditions, the pregnant women giving birth have also been seen to have

lifelong implications such as physical health issues, defective life skills, mental health issues, and

behavioral issues (Hajdu et al., 2022).

Evidence-Based Recommendations

Recommendations from Literature Review

Access to maternal health care and prenatal services is vital component to successful

pregnancies and reducing mortality and morbidity for both the children and mothers (Carlson &

Neuberger, 2021). With new limitations on abortion, reducing teen pregnancy is imperative.

Future studies are needed to measure the impact of these restrictions (Pabayo et al., 2020), if

unwanted pregnancies are going to be inevitable, and leaders need to strengthen the current

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*** This sample was adapted from a Monroe College student’s final paper. ***

systems in place. De Londras et al. (2022) recommended use of the WHO’s international

guidelines be enforced to maximize health outcomes, health system efficiency, and to ensure

human rights, while Hajdu and Hajdu (2021) focused on the consequences of access to abortion

and family planning and urged the importance of implementing abortion policies. Their results

(Hajdu & Hajdu, 2021) could be utilized in creating such policies. Like Hajdu and Hajdu (2021),

Janighorban et al. (2022) recommended developing comprehensive and practical programs

beyond legal and political purviews. They (Janighorban et al., 2022) argued the repercussions of

limited access to family planning and abortion could impact the health of adolescents in varying

societies.

Program Recommendation

As research (Hajdu & Hajdu, 2021; Janighorban et al., 2022) has suggested the

importance of future studies and creation of policies to protect access to family planning, one

existing program that could be expanded is Women, Infant, and Children (WIC), a program

instated in order to mitigate the discrepancies in access to nutritional care (FNS, 2013). This was

brought forth by the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), an agency within the United State

Department of Agriculture (USDA). They implemented a nutrition assistance program for

pregnant women and mothers, infants up to six months, and children under the age of five. The

WIC program was designed for this population who are of low-income status; guidelines deem

this to be between 100-185% of the federal poverty line for eligibility, those experiencing

nutritional risk such as malnourishment, underweight, diabetes, high risk pregnancy, in addition

to others (FNS, 2013). This program provides supplemental nutrition, nutrition education,

breastfeeding support and referrals to prenatal and other health services.

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*** This sample was adapted from a Monroe College student’s final paper. ***

Benefits of this programs has been linked to decreased infant morbidity and mortality

among women and infants (Carlson & Neuberger, 2021). WIC has been associated with longer

gestational periods, and higher birth weights (FNS, 2013). Children under two have been

documented to have improved rates of immunization and regular access to medical care within

the first year of life and associated with a higher likelihood of having a regular provider

throughout childhood (Carlson & Neuberger, 2021). Access to these services is also linked with

lower healthcare costs to mothers and families, making maternal health services more accessible

(FNS, 2013).

The present research recommends that WIC should be expanded to incorporate sex-

education. Only 21 states mandate lessons on contraception. The majority of the country teaches

only abstinence (Disi et al., 2022). If WIC were to expand access to more of the population by

providing in-depth sex education and more government funding, then public health professionals

could aid in significantly reducing the risks of pregnancy for both mother and child. If this

program were to expand to all women in need of contraception, sex education, prenatal care,

maternal healthcare services, access to these benefits would reduce risks associated with

pregnancy, as well as reduction of risks of teen pregnancy.

The Conclusion would go here,

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