New report warns the US faces a maternal health care crisis

Lauren Taylor

THE U-S IS FACING A MATERNAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS.

ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT BY THE MARCH OF DIMES – ONE IN EVERY THREE U-S COUNTIES DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE OBSTETRIC CLINICIAN. 

THE MARCH OF DIMES IS A NONPROFIT THAT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES. 

AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE – THEY SAY IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY… O-B-G-Y-Ns AND FAMILY DOCTORS WHO DELIVER BABIES ARE LEAVING THE WORKFORCE.

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS PREDICTS THE U-S  WILL FACE A SHORTAGE OF 12 TO 15 *THOUSAND O-B/G-Y-Ns BY 20-50.

THE MARCH OF DIMES ALSO FOUND IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS… THERE’S BEEN AN UPTICK IN HOSPITALS CLOSING THEIR OBSTETRICS UNITS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS – FROM STAFF SHORTAGES IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC TO LOW BIRTH VOLUMES.

THE MARCH OF DIMES FOUND 35 PERCENT OF COUNTIES IN THE U-S ARE CONSIDERED “MATERNITY CARE DESERTS”. 

THAT MEANS THEY DON’T HAVE A HOSPITAL OR BIRTH CENTER OFFERING OBSTETRIC CARE. 

FURTHERMORE – THE NONPROFIT FOUND 70 PERCENT OF BIRTH CENTERS IN THE U-S ARE LOCATED WITHIN JUST 10 STATES.

IN 20-22 ALONE… MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND BABIES WERE BORN TO PEOPLE LIVING IN MATERNITY CARE DESERTS.

AND AN ADDITIONAL 200-THOUSAND BABIES WERE BORN TO PEOPLE LIVING IN COUNTIES WITH LIMITED MATERNITY CARE ACCESS.

THE MARCH OF DIMES FOUND SIX STATES IN PARTICULAR HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF MATERNITY CARE DESERTS: NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKTA, OKLAHOMA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, AND ARKANSAS. 

HOWEVER – THE MARCH OF DIMES SAYS AREAS WITH THE *MOST NEED* FOR MATERNITY CARE ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE U.S. 

THE NEW REPORT ALSO SAID THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNING ROE VERSUS WADE IN 20-22 IS IMPACTING HOW AND WHERE O-B-G-Y-Ns TRAIN AND TREAT PATIENTS.

THE MARCH OF DIMES SAYS STATES WHERE ABORTION IS NOW PROHIBITED HAD FEWER O-B-G-Y-Ns FOR EVERY 10-THOUSAND BIRTHS – COMPARED TO STATES WHERE ABORTION RIGHTS WERE UPHELD.