The U.S. still has plenty of room for improvement concerning pregnancy and delivery.
New information says 36% of U.S. Counties can be referred to as maternity care deserts.
First, let’s explain the term maternity care deserts. A county without an obstetric hospital, birth center, or any obstetric physician qualifies as a maternity care desert.
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The statistics confirm that almost one-third of counties, the majority of which are rural, are maternity care deserts.
“Every time a new report comes out, we seem to be going in the wrong direction. So you’re taking an already difficult situation, and it’s just getting worse,” said Stacey Stewart, president, and CEO, March of Dimes. These findings are from the latest study by March of Dimes.
Living in a maternity care desert is one of several complicating factors for pregnant people that could harm their experience and threaten their lives.
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Many of them are likely to be poor. Also, they are increasingly susceptible to suffering from a range of diseases, including asthma.
The issue requires urgent rectification as it is likely to worsen the already vulnerable U.S. maternity scenario.
Governing bodies are aware of the severity of the situation. The current Administration is moving toward a time when the United States will be the best place in the world for an expecting mom led by President Biden and Vice President Harris.