More than 7 million women of childbearing age live in maternal health care deserts across the U.S., with Mississippi having the highest percentage of residents impacted at 23.5%, according to an analysis by the March of Dimes. The report found that 2.2 million women live in maternity care deserts, counties with no obstetric hospitals or birth centers and no obstetric providers. An additional 4.8 million live in counties with limited access to maternity care.
Racial disparities persist, with American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations being disproportionately represented in maternal care deserts. Rural counties make up the vast majority of these areas lacking adequate care. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the maternal health crisis, with hospitals cutting obstetric services.
The March of Dimes calls for federal and state policies to improve access to quality maternal care, especially in underserved communities. Expanding Medicaid coverage, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and addressing social determinants of health are key recommendations to tackle the dire situation facing millions of women in the U.S.
See “States Where the Most People Live in Maternal Health Care Deserts in 2022” (May 31, 2024)
