In spite of the improvement in infant mortality rates, the US maternal mortality rate increased from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, with the rate for Black women nearly triple that of White women.
This gives the US the highest maternal death rate among high-income countries - nearly 300% higher than France, the country with the second highest maternal death rate.
Exacerbating this trend are the growing scarcity of childbearing services. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 400 maternity services have closed nationwide. Between March and June 2022 alone, 11 health systems announced they were closing their obstetric services, citing low birth volumes and staffing challenges.
As birthing units close, obstetricians, and nurse-midwives are more likely to leave high needs areas worsening “maternity care deserts.”
Lack of access is more severe in rural areas. Between 2004 and 2014, 9% of rural counties lost hospital maternity services; another 45% had no maternity services to begin with. Rural areas have greater proportions of Medicaid recipients than urban areas, with Medicaid paying substantially less than private insurers for child birthing.
Ongoing closures of rural health services impede hospitals' abilities to improve maternal and infant outcomes.
In spite of the improvement in infant mortality rates, the US maternal mortality rate increased from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, with the rate for Black women nearly triple that of White women.
This gives the US the highest maternal death rate among high-income countries – nearly 300% higher than France, the country with the second highest maternal death rate.
Exacerbating this trend are the growing scarcity of childbearing services. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 400 maternity services have closed nationwide. Between March and June 2022 alone, 11 health systems announced they were closing their obstetric services, citing low birth volumes and staffing challenges.
As birthing units close, obstetricians, and nurse-midwives are more likely to leave high needs areas worsening “maternity care deserts.”
Lack of access is more severe in rural areas. Between 2004 and 2014, 9% of rural counties lost hospital maternity services; another 45% had no maternity services to begin with. Rural areas have greater proportions of Medicaid recipients than urban areas, with Medicaid paying substantially less than private insurers for child birthing.
Ongoing closures of rural health services impede hospitals’ abilities to improve maternal and infant outcomes.
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