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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Maternal health and prenatal care

Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis
Documentation of a March 23, 2021, House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on maternal health disparities. Discusses causes and possible policy options to reduce these disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
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Partnering to Improve Birth Outcomes in a Rural Community: Kearny County Hospital, Lakin, KS
Highlights the Pioneer Baby program, a partnership between Kearny County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Discusses how funding from grants and local employers enhanced the obstetrics program. Describes how the partnership worked to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and presents lessons learned.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural Obstetric Unit Closures and Maternal and Infant Health
Policy paper examining the discontinuation of obstetric services in rural communities. Discusses factors contributing to obstetric unit closures, including hospital financial constraints, Medicaid reimbursement rates, and maternal health workforce concerns. Offers policy recommendations to prevent additional obstetric unit closures in rural areas.
Author(s): Lindsay Corcoran, Catherine Clary, Sarah Brinkman
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Adolescent Birth Rates and Rural–Urban Differences by Levels of Deprivation and Health Professional Shortage Areas in the United States, 2017–2018
Provides rural versus urban data on birth rates in females aged 15 to 19 years by county area deprivation index (ADI), Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), race/ethnicity, and healthcare resources. Utilizes 2017-2018 data from the National Center for Health Statistics, American Community Survey 5-year population estimates, and the Area Health Resources Files.
Author(s): Sylvester O. Orimaye, Nathan Hale, Edward Leinaar, Michael G. Smith, Amal Khoury
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 136-144
Date: 01/2021
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The Essential Role of Family Physicians in Providing Cesarean Sections in Rural Communities
Policy brief describing percentages of family physicians (FPs) providing obstetric services and cesarean deliveries as the primary surgeon, using data from the 2017 and 2018 American Board of Family Medicine's Family Medicine Certification Examination registration questionnaire for FPs seeking to continue their certification. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, micropolitan, large rural, and small rural locations.
Author(s): Sebastian T. Tong, Aimee R. Eden, Zachary J. Morgan, Andrew W. Bazemore, Lars E. Peterson
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 34(1), 10-11
Date: 01/2021
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South Dakota Health Status Maps, 2021 Vital Statistics
A collection of maps identifying the health status and related population characteristics of South Dakota residents by county. Includes information on prenatal care and births, chronic disease, mortality rates, and more.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Department of Health
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Maternity Care Deserts and Pregnancy-Associated Mortality in Louisiana
Results of a study exploring whether living in a county with no hospital offering obstetric care and no OB/GYN or certified nurse midwife providers was associated with risk of death during pregnancy and up to 1 year postpartum among women in Louisiana from 2016–2017. Features demographics, county-level maps showing level of access to maternity care, and statistics
Author(s): Maeve Wallace, Lauren Dyer, Erica Felker-Kantor, et al.
Citation: Women's Health Issues, 31(2), 122-129
Date: 2021
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Treating a Public Health Crisis for Rural Moms – A Comparative Analysis of Four Rural States Addressing Maternal Opioid Misuse with Medicaid Innovation Models
Discusses how 4 states - Colorado, Indiana, Maine, and Missouri - have used the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) model to address maternal opioid use disorders among rural Medicaid beneficiaries. Compares different approaches taken by each state, including benefit eligibility, health insurance payers and health systems partnerships, and telehealth utilization.
Author(s): Jason Semprini
Citation: Online Journal of Rural Research & Policy, 16(2)
Date: 2021
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Advancing Maternal Health Equity and Reducing Maternal Mortality: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop that examined maternal health in the U.S. in order to support communities and healthcare systems in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Addresses maternal health inequities facing rural and tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Bright Spots: Case Studies in Innovative Rural Healthcare
Profiles 8 rural healthcare facilities and communities that successfully addressed issues regarding access to healthcare and explores commonalities across the case studies. Describes how these initiatives optimize leadership, cultural transformation, data utilization, rural maternity care, and external partnerships.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: A&M Rural and Community Health Institute
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