Making childbirth safer and making rural reproductive health care better are the goals of a new bill in Arizona, which Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law on May 13.
House Bill 2332 will require the Arizona Department of Heath Services to develop and distribute educational materials on postpartum depression to health care providers and patients.
It will also create an OB-GYN advisory committee for rural Arizona.
Women in rural Arizona communities often have to drive hours to receive the reproductive health care they need. As of 2020, both La Paz and Greenlee counties had zero OB-GYNs or certified nurse midwives.
Apache and Graham counties have fewer than one OB-GYN per 10,000 women.
The goal of the advisory committee is to develop recommendations to enhance prenatal, labor and delivery, maternal health and postpartum care services in rural hospitals and communities, and deliver those recommendations to the governor and Arizona Legislature by the end of 2026.
HB 2332 was introduced by Arizona Rep. Julie Willoughby (R-Chandler).
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According to federal research, roughly 1 in 7 Arizona women reported symptoms of postpartum depression. Rates can be even higher among certain populations, such as Mexican women in Maricopa County, where studies have found postpartum depression in up to 58% of new mothers.
And approximately 50% of postpartum depression cases go undiagnosed due to the patient’s unwillingness to share symptoms, or otherwise not knowing what symptoms to look for.
HB 2332 will aim to reduce that number by helping keep patients informed.
“I want to thank the bill’s sponsor for putting forth this legislation,” said Arizona Rep. Anna Abeyita (D-Glendale).
“I have a little one. She’s 2 years old, and I also have underlying mental health issues that I recently learned [about,]” she said. “I personally feel very grateful for this legislation, and I know other mothers will be as well.”
The bill passed in the Arizona House of Representatives, with 13 Republicans voting against it. It passed the Arizona Senate with all but three Republicans voting in favor.
