Today, we released the 2019 OB-GYN Workforce study, which examines the growing shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYN) and its impact on women’s healthcare. In addition to providing a wide range of gynecological care throughout women’s lives., OB-GYNs are the primary source of care for women during pregnancy and delivery.
By examining data from the Doximity network, this new report identifies the top U.S. cities at risk of an OB-GYN shortage.
In addition to identifying these at-risk cities, we also examined the sharply declining birthrates in the U.S., as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2018, the U.S. birthrate fell to the lowest number in 32 years.
For millennial women, this decline was particularly pronounced, with birthrates for women ages 25-29 in 2018 falling 3% from 2017, and birthrates for women ages 20-24 decreasing 4% during the same time period.
Other studies show lingering effects of the Great Recession, along with a host of related financial pressures, have made the goal of having children harder to reach for millennial women. Those who are just starting to think about starting families may face the biggest impact, as a shortage of trained OB-GYN specialists will likely compound the issues.
To see additional findings and view the full report, click here.