For more than five million women in the U.S., getting maternity care is difficult or impossible.
More than one-third (36%) of U.S. counties are considered “maternity care deserts,” which means they do not have any obstetric providers or birth centers.
In just one year, the number of birthing hospitals has decreased by 4%. Since 2018, a total of 301 birthing units have closed.
These are some of the key findings from the March of Dimes’ latest report, “Where You Live Matters: Maternity Care Deserts and the Crisis of Access and Equity,” which explores the state of maternity care throughout all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
