Over a Third of US Counties Classified as Maternity Care Deserts

New report reveals significant health risks and service shortages for millions of women in rural and underserved areas.

More than a third of US counties lack any medical birthing facility or obstetric services.
Maternity care deserts are associated with a 13% higher risk of preterm birth.
States with the highest percentage of maternity care deserts include North Dakota, South Dakota, and Oklahoma.
The reversal of Roe v. Wade has exacerbated the shortage of OB-GYNs in states with strict abortion laws.
Hospitals have increasingly closed obstetric units due to financial challenges and staffing shortages.