By Sarah Johanek, MPH

Access to reproductive healthcare has been shown to impact rates of Maternal Mental Health Disorders (MMHDs). In 2020 Mom’s most recent issue brief, we present the available research on the multifaceted relationships between access to different forms of reproductive health care and maternal mental health (MMH). The brief also provides a call to action for policymakers, providers, and health insurers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), reproductive health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.” WHO expands this definition by stating that reproductive health requires the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide whether to reproduce, when to, and how often. Family planning is a vital part of reproductive healthcare. It is defined by WHO as the ability of an individual to attain the number of children they want and to plan the spacing of their births accordingly. With the use of contraception, families are able to prevent the mental, physical, and financial challenges that can be associated with unintended pregnancy.

Specifically, this issue brief outlines the following:

The MMH implications of unintended pregnancy
Research on the relationships between MMH and access to birth control, family planning counseling, and abortion
The Biden-Harris Administration's position on access to reproductive healthcare
The key levers for change to increase access to reproductive healthcare to reduce the impact of MMHDs

Download the issue brief.