Maternal care deserts lead to higher risk of maternal deaths

Counties designated as maternity care deserts ─ those without hospitals or birth centers offering obstetrics care and no maternity care providers ─ face significantly higher maternal mortality rates than those with full access to care, a study found. Published in the June 2025 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the authors found desert counties had a 36% higher risk for maternal care and a 26% increased risk for pregnancy-related mortality, according to an analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data of  nearly 14.8 million live births from January 2018 to December 2021. The authors wrote, “Expanding access to comprehensive maternity services in these counties is a critical step toward improving maternal health outcomes and narrowing persistent inequities.” (Medscape article, 7/7/25)