March of Dimes’ Post

Aleeshia Huguley has a high-risk pregnancy in a county with low access to maternity care. She and her husband Serkeith, are concerned about being so far away from the only birthing hospital in their area—which serves four surrounding counties. Aleeshia and Serkeith’s story underscores the broader issue of maternity care deserts in America. Where you live matters. For millions of families across the US, the ability to have a healthy pregnancy depends on the community they live in. The latest maternity care deserts report from March of Dimes, 2024 Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US, reveals that accessing quality maternity care is near impossible, and worsening, for too many families, creating potentially dangerous outcomes for moms and babies and fueling the maternal and infant health crisis. Learn about access to maternity care where you live, and how you can take action to help all families get access to care: https://lnkd.in/gJ-hnEkn

This morning, March of Dimes released an urgent new report on access to maternity care in the U.S. entitled Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US. This report provides a deep look at access to maternity care throughout the country.   Where you live matters when it comes to the options available for maternity care. Maternity care deserts are counties where there is no access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering obstetric care, or obstetric providers. Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US reveals that over 35% of counties are considered maternity care deserts. This means that in 1,104 counties, there is not a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician.   Our report includes detailed statistics, analysis, and policy recommendations. Click below to view the report and read more. https://lnkd.in/eTh9BGzs

The 2024 Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US Report found that more than 35 percent of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts, meaning they are an area without a single birthing facility or obstetrician clinician. These 1,104 counties are home to more than 2.3 million women of reproductive age and more than 150,000 babies were birthed by women living in a maternity care desert. The report underscores the urgent need for action to address the ongoing maternal health care crisis in the U.S. to ensure all mothers and babies have access to quality care.

Our latest national report on maternity care access in the United States reveals a stark reality; where you live matters when it comes to the options available for maternity care. While some progress has been made to increase access to care, such as expanding and extending Medicaid, we continue to witness steady reports of obstetric unit closures and workforce shortages. In fact, 1 in every 25 obstetric units in the US shuttered their doors in the last 2 years, resulting in fewer choices, increased stress, and greater travel times for birthing people. The 2024 Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US report reveals that over 35% of counties are considered maternity care deserts. This means that in 1,104 US counties, there is not a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician. These counties are home to over 2.3 million women of reproductive age and are the resident county of women who gave birth to over 150,000 babies in 2022. Learn about access to maternity care where you live, and how you can take action to help all families get access to care: https://lnkd.in/gJ-hnEkn

Do you know what a maternity care desert is? Here is something that we learned with our work in birth centers: - More than 2 million women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts (1,052 counties) that have no hospital offering obstetric care, no birth center and no obstetric provider. - Almost 130,000 babies were born in maternity care deserts. - An additional 3.5 million women of childbearing age live in counties with limited access to maternity care. Follow more insights at UpsideInnovates.

Where you live matters when it comes to the options available for maternity care. Maternity care deserts are counties where there is no access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering obstetric care, or obstetric providers. The March of Dimes latest report "Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts in the US" reveals that over 35% of counties are considered maternity care deserts. It's shocking to learn that over half of US counties do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care, and nearly 70% of birth centers are located within just ten states. These findings affirm that US systems, policies, and environments are failing moms and babies. We encourage you to read the report and learn how you may be impacted in your community https://lnkd.in/eUzfjmGV #maternity #maternalhealth #womenshealth #maternitydeserts #maternalhealthequity #valuebasedmaternitycare

Hot off the press: March of Dimes's 2024 Maternity Care Desert report (last published in 2022.) Important findings: - Over 35% of US counties are MCD's - Over HALF of counties in the US do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care (WHAT?! This is unacceptable) - Nearly 70% of birth centers are located within just 10 states (meaning birth centers are not accessible for all people) - On average, birthing women in the US travel 16 minutes by car to their nearest birthing hospital without traffic. Driving time increases to 26 and 38 minutes, on average, for rural and maternity care desert residents, respectively. It's unacceptable that the healthcare system has failed women and families in this way. The accelerating closure of hospital systems around the U.S. should be top of mind for everyone.

The latest report from March of Dimes, "Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the US," sheds light on a growing crisis in maternal health. Over 5.5 million women now reside in counties with limited or no access to essential #MaternityCare. This highlights the urgent need for systemic solutions to ensure that every family has access to safe and comprehensive maternity care. Read the full report and join us in driving the change needed: https://lnkd.in/eUzfjmGV

Where you live shouldn’t determine the health of your pregnancy, but for millions of families across the US, it does. March of Dimes' latest maternity care deserts report: Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the US (2024) highlights that too many communities are facing worsening access to essential maternity care, leading to dangerous outcomes for moms and babies. Our Founder and March of Dimes’ Board of Trustee member, Dr. Ellen Stang believes it is essential to make maternal care a priority. ProgenyHealth is proud to stand with March of Dimes in advocating for improved access to care, better policies, and health equity. Learn more about the state of maternity care in the US and the proposed solutions here: https://hubs.ly/Q02PjkSr0 #MaternityCareDeserts #HealthEquity

Where you live matters. Where you deliver matters.