Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Maternal health workforce
2010-2022 County-Level Hospital-Based Obstetric Care Status
County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2022. Available for download as an XLS file.
Author(s): J.D. Interrante, E.C. Sheffield, K.B. Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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County-level dataset containing the county Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, state, and indicator of whether each county had hospital-based obstetrics care in years 2010-2022. Available for download as an XLS file.
Author(s): J.D. Interrante, E.C. Sheffield, K.B. Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Maternal Mortality in Indiana: Contributing Factors and Policy Recommendations
Discusses causes of maternal mortality and related data in Indiana and the U.S. at large. Includes information on disparities with a focus on rural areas, demographics, and access to maternal health services. Provides county-level map of Indiana showing full, moderate, low, or no access to maternity care. Explores potential solutions to maternal mortality, such as co-location of maternal and behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder (SUD) support, mental health support, and more.
Author(s): Tierra Brooks, Lee Ruess, Kristi Schultz, Elizabeth Thuranira
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University Public Policy Institute
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Discusses causes of maternal mortality and related data in Indiana and the U.S. at large. Includes information on disparities with a focus on rural areas, demographics, and access to maternal health services. Provides county-level map of Indiana showing full, moderate, low, or no access to maternity care. Explores potential solutions to maternal mortality, such as co-location of maternal and behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder (SUD) support, mental health support, and more.
Author(s): Tierra Brooks, Lee Ruess, Kristi Schultz, Elizabeth Thuranira
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University Public Policy Institute
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Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative
Describes accomplishments of the Health Resources and Services Administration's initiative to strengthen, expand, and accelerate work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities, especially in underserved areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Describes accomplishments of the Health Resources and Services Administration's initiative to strengthen, expand, and accelerate work to address maternal mortality and maternal health disparities, especially in underserved areas. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Low Birthweight Rate Differences Associated with Distinct Perinatal Staffing Mixes at Federally Funded Health Centers
Examines associations between health center staffing models and low birthweight (LBW), utilizing 2011-2021 Uniform Data System files of 1,385 health centers. Includes data on rural-urban differences in distribution of hospitals staffing certified nurse midwives (CNMs), obstetricians-gynecologists (OBs), both, or neither.
Author(s): Paula M Kett, Grace A Guenther, Marieke S van Eijk, David G Patterson, Bianca K Frogner
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12), qxae113
Date: 12/2024
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Examines associations between health center staffing models and low birthweight (LBW), utilizing 2011-2021 Uniform Data System files of 1,385 health centers. Includes data on rural-urban differences in distribution of hospitals staffing certified nurse midwives (CNMs), obstetricians-gynecologists (OBs), both, or neither.
Author(s): Paula M Kett, Grace A Guenther, Marieke S van Eijk, David G Patterson, Bianca K Frogner
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 2(12), qxae113
Date: 12/2024
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The State of Rural Provider Compensation in 2024: Rural Provider & Advanced Practice Provider Compensation Survey Results
Results of a survey of over 2,841 rural providers, conducted in January and February of 2024 to provide insight into rural healthcare organizations and promote evidence-based, informed decisions when considering physician and advanced practice provider compensation. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of provider, specialty area, region, and more. Must provide email to access report.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, National Rural Health Association, Stroudwater Associates
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Results of a survey of over 2,841 rural providers, conducted in January and February of 2024 to provide insight into rural healthcare organizations and promote evidence-based, informed decisions when considering physician and advanced practice provider compensation. Features statistics with breakdowns by type of provider, specialty area, region, and more. Must provide email to access report.
Date: 12/2024
Sponsoring organizations: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, National Rural Health Association, Stroudwater Associates
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The Availability of Midwifery Care in Rural United States Communities
Describes the availability of midwifery care at rural hospitals in 2021. Presents results of a survey of 292 rural hospitals with current or recently closed childbirth services. Details whether rural hospitals with current or prior childbirth services had midwifery care with certified nurse-midwives available locally. Compares rural communities with and without midwifery care by hospital-level and county-level characteristics.
Author(s): Emily C. Sheffield, Alyssa H. Fritz, Julia D. Interrante, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 69(6), 929-936
Date: 11/2024
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Describes the availability of midwifery care at rural hospitals in 2021. Presents results of a survey of 292 rural hospitals with current or recently closed childbirth services. Details whether rural hospitals with current or prior childbirth services had midwifery care with certified nurse-midwives available locally. Compares rural communities with and without midwifery care by hospital-level and county-level characteristics.
Author(s): Emily C. Sheffield, Alyssa H. Fritz, Julia D. Interrante, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 69(6), 929-936
Date: 11/2024
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Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.
Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Describes trends in the supply and distribution of clinicians in primary care, behavioral health, and obstetrical care, as well as dentists, surgeons, community health workers, and home health aides. Examines the availability of workforce data for professions important for rural communities, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using various health workforce data sources for rural health research. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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North Carolina Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: A Report on the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Workforce in North Carolina
Describe trends in the supply, demographic, educational, practice, and geographic characteristics of nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists in North Carolina. Features statistics with breakdowns by nonmetropolitan counties compared with state population.
Author(s): Erin Fraher, Connor Sullivan, Catherine Moore, et al.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Describe trends in the supply, demographic, educational, practice, and geographic characteristics of nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists in North Carolina. Features statistics with breakdowns by nonmetropolitan counties compared with state population.
Author(s): Erin Fraher, Connor Sullivan, Catherine Moore, et al.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Final Report of the Rural Texas Obstetrics Study
Uses data analysis, interviews, and surveys to report on rural obstetrics access issues in Texas. Discusses facility closures, distance to care, provider shortages, reimbursements, and healthcare quality. Offers an analysis of 15 facilities that closed OB departments to understand potential drivers of closures. Email address required to access report.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
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Uses data analysis, interviews, and surveys to report on rural obstetrics access issues in Texas. Discusses facility closures, distance to care, provider shortages, reimbursements, and healthcare quality. Offers an analysis of 15 facilities that closed OB departments to understand potential drivers of closures. Email address required to access report.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Stroudwater Associates
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Innovations in Rural Obstetrics to Maintain Access to Care
Discusses closures of rural hospitals and labor and delivery services and the impact on maternity care access. Provides examples of 6 approaches to sustain obstetric care: partnerships, community-centered care, quality initiatives, culturally competent care, rural workforce development, and maternity care as an equity issue.
Author(s): Mary Louise Gilburg, Morgan McDonald, Erin E. Sullivan
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Discusses closures of rural hospitals and labor and delivery services and the impact on maternity care access. Provides examples of 6 approaches to sustain obstetric care: partnerships, community-centered care, quality initiatives, culturally competent care, rural workforce development, and maternity care as an equity issue.
Author(s): Mary Louise Gilburg, Morgan McDonald, Erin E. Sullivan
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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