Graduation Year

2025

Date of Submission

12-2024

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Science and Management

Reader 1

Aditi Vyas

Reader 2

Jessamyn Schaller

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

2024 Ruva Kiara

Abstract

This thesis examines maternal health in the United States by investigating certain outcomes pre-Roe v. Wade and post-Roe v. Wade and then proposing how to examine these outcomes after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Maternal health mortality and morbidity is a growing concern and issue for women and families within the United States. The thesis focuses on four variables that directly impact maternal health: nutrient intake, pre-existing conditions, age, and mental health. In addition, it explores certain factors such as race and state policies that exacerbate outcomes and disparities. Findings show that older mothers face increased risk and poor nutrient levels correlate with worse maternal and fetal outcomes. Mental health challenges, such as stress, anxiety, and depression are linked to poor maternal health outcomes and certain pre-existing conditions may contribute to severe complications in birth or pregnancy or even death. In terms of disparities, non-White women historically suffer through worse health outcomes and across states women are seeking better health care, leaving their home-states with restrictive policies for states with more reproductive care options. To better understand how these outcomes will change and likely worsen with the Trump Administration and increase in restrictive policies across certain states, I propose a longitudinal experiment that examines the long-term impacts of the Dobbs decision on maternal health. The experiment’s focus is on all four variables and additionally examines telomeres; it includes a methodology, participant recruitment data sourcing, measurement techniques, data analysis, and a procedure necessary to analyze the maternal health trends in health care in a post-Roe v Wade society.

This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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