Rural Maternal Health – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Maternal Health.
Promoting Access to Care for Women of Reproductive Age with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Rural Communities
Report highlights the barriers to mental healthcare and substance use disorder treatment for rural women of reproductive age. Discusses continuity of care, access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and workforce shortages among other barriers. Presents recommendations, such as telehealth and care coordination, and provides program examples from different states.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Georgia Health Policy Center
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Report highlights the barriers to mental healthcare and substance use disorder treatment for rural women of reproductive age. Discusses continuity of care, access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and workforce shortages among other barriers. Presents recommendations, such as telehealth and care coordination, and provides program examples from different states.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Georgia Health Policy Center
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The Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of the Obstetrical Care Workforce in the U.S
Highlights the supply of obstetrical care workers in rural and urban areas in the U.S. Compares rates of midwives, advanced practice midwives, obstetricians, and family practice physicians who deliver babies per 100,000 women of childbearing age in rural counties. Features a state-by state analysis and state-level profiles.
Additional links: State-level Reports
Author(s): Davis Patterson, Holly Andrilla, Lisa Garberson
Date: 06/2020
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Highlights the supply of obstetrical care workers in rural and urban areas in the U.S. Compares rates of midwives, advanced practice midwives, obstetricians, and family practice physicians who deliver babies per 100,000 women of childbearing age in rural counties. Features a state-by state analysis and state-level profiles.
Additional links: State-level Reports
Author(s): Davis Patterson, Holly Andrilla, Lisa Garberson
Date: 06/2020
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Maternal and Obstetric Care Challenges in Rural America
Provides an overview of the clinical factors and social determinants of health that may increase the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality in rural communities. Discusses the impact of insurance coverage status, hospital and obstetric unit closures, and workforce shortages on rural maternal health. Describes the role of the Department of Health and Human Services in addressing maternal health outcomes. Offers policy recommendations to reduce rural maternal health disparities.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Provides an overview of the clinical factors and social determinants of health that may increase the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality in rural communities. Discusses the impact of insurance coverage status, hospital and obstetric unit closures, and workforce shortages on rural maternal health. Describes the role of the Department of Health and Human Services in addressing maternal health outcomes. Offers policy recommendations to reduce rural maternal health disparities.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Maternal Health Programs
Provides an overview of five maternal health programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Describes the core activities or focus areas, applicant eligibility, reporting requirements and performance measures, and funding history for each program. Features the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program, a pilot program that aims to improve access to maternity and obstetrics services in rural areas.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of five maternal health programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Describes the core activities or focus areas, applicant eligibility, reporting requirements and performance measures, and funding history for each program. Features the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program, a pilot program that aims to improve access to maternity and obstetrics services in rural areas.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Rural-Urban Differences In Severe Maternal Morbidity And Mortality In The US, 2007–15
Analyzes severe maternal morbidity and mortality among rural and urban residents during childbirth. Examines data from the 2007-2015 National Inpatient Sample with breakdowns according to age, insurance type, race/ethnicity, income, Census region, and rurality. Discusses policy implications and strategies to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Carrie Henning-Smith, Lindsay K. Admon
Citation: Health Affairs, 38, 12
Date: 12/2019
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Analyzes severe maternal morbidity and mortality among rural and urban residents during childbirth. Examines data from the 2007-2015 National Inpatient Sample with breakdowns according to age, insurance type, race/ethnicity, income, Census region, and rurality. Discusses policy implications and strategies to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Carrie Henning-Smith, Lindsay K. Admon
Citation: Health Affairs, 38, 12
Date: 12/2019
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Severe Maternal Morbidity and Hospital Transfer Among Rural Residents
Examines hospital transfer rates for rural and urban residents before and after childbirth and the relationship of transfer status and severe maternal morbidity and mortality.
Author(s): Katy Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Alexandria Kristensen-Cabrera, Carrie Henning-Smith, Regan Theiler
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Examines hospital transfer rates for rural and urban residents before and after childbirth and the relationship of transfer status and severe maternal morbidity and mortality.
Author(s): Katy Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Alexandria Kristensen-Cabrera, Carrie Henning-Smith, Regan Theiler
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Improving Access to Maternal Health Care in Rural Communities
Highlights the issues affecting access to healthcare for women in rural communities before, during, and after pregnancy. Demonstrates the need for national, state, and community organizations to work together to develop a plan to improve access to care and the outcomes for rural women and their babies.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Highlights the issues affecting access to healthcare for women in rural communities before, during, and after pregnancy. Demonstrates the need for national, state, and community organizations to work together to develop a plan to improve access to care and the outcomes for rural women and their babies.
Date: 09/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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A Conversation on Maternal Health Care in Rural Communities: Charting a Path to Improved Access, Quality and Outcomes
Provides a recording of a day-long forum on maternal health access in rural communities. Addresses statistics on maternal health access, disparities in access and mortality rates, healthcare quality, models of care, state and federal policies related to maternal health, and more.
Additional links: Agenda, External Summary
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Provides a recording of a day-long forum on maternal health access in rural communities. Addresses statistics on maternal health access, disparities in access and mortality rates, healthcare quality, models of care, state and federal policies related to maternal health, and more.
Additional links: Agenda, External Summary
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Rural Health Research Recap: State of Rural Women's Healthcare Utilization and Health Indicators
Summarizes rural and urban statistics describing health indicators and healthcare utilization for women, maternal and obstetric healthcare services, and maternal substance use. Includes information regarding barriers to accessing care.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Summarizes rural and urban statistics describing health indicators and healthcare utilization for women, maternal and obstetric healthcare services, and maternal substance use. Includes information regarding barriers to accessing care.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 04/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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HRSA Maternal Mortality Summit: Promising Global Practices to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes Technical Report
Compiles key findings from a three-day summit, Promising Global Practices to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, that includes reports, presentations, discussion, and other resources to improve maternal health outcomes from experts in the field. Provides an overview of maternal health, morbidity, and mortality in the United States. Covers the limited access to obstetric healthcare services women living in rural areas face.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Compiles key findings from a three-day summit, Promising Global Practices to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, that includes reports, presentations, discussion, and other resources to improve maternal health outcomes from experts in the field. Provides an overview of maternal health, morbidity, and mortality in the United States. Covers the limited access to obstetric healthcare services women living in rural areas face.
Date: 02/2019
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Last Updated: 1/28/2026