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Over 5.6 million U.S. women live in “maternity care deserts,” counties with no access to obstetric care through a hospital or other provider, according to the latest by the March of Dimes. Since the organization’s initial report on the issue in 2018, access to hospital obstetric care units has declined in 369 counties and 70 more counties have been classified as maternity care deserts, with the highest proportion in states with more rural populations, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, Oklahoma and Nebraska, the organization said.
 
“These reports come during a critical time for hospitals struggling with maternity unit closures, recruitment, and staffing,” the March of Dimes . “Even before the pandemic, hospitals started closing maternity units across the country due to low birth volume and rising costs.”
 
The AHA has highlighted the challenge of providing obstetric services in rural areas and provides members with resources to improve maternal and child health through the Better Health for Mothers and Babies initiative.