Report: Access to maternity care continues to decrease

More than 5.6 million women live in counties with no or limited access to maternity care services, according to research from the March of Dimes. Thirty-six percent of U.S. counties are considered maternity care deserts, defined as counties without a hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and without any obstetric providers. Since the organization’s initial report on maternity deserts in 2018, access to hospital obstetric care units has declined in 369 counties; 70 additional counties have been classified as maternity care deserts, with the highest proportion in states with more rural populations. The analyses on maternity care access offers insight into the factors affecting pregnancies in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. (March of Dimes news release, 8/1/23)