Compared to other developed nations, the United States regularly ranks among the worst countries for maternal and infant health outcomes. Childbirth outcomes are often tied to a birthing parent’s circumstances, fueling wide disparities at the geographic, demographic, and income levels. Research shows that access — to prenatal care, family planning services, and other contraceptive resources — decreases mother and infant mortality; yet access to obstetric care is decreasing in a rising number of U.S. counties due to factors including aging populations, limited staff, and low reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients. All of these factors combine to create maternal health care deserts in the US.
