Rural Maternal Health – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Maternal Health.
Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Maternal Health Chartbook 2010–2019
Analyzes data from the National Inpatient Sample from between 2010 and 2019 to highlight trends in maternal health related to diabetes, hypertension, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and severe maternal morbidity. Includes data by expected payer, patient characteristics, and geography. Includes large metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan comparisons throughout.
Author(s): Lawrence Reid, Kimberly Marin, Jessica Monnet
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Analyzes data from the National Inpatient Sample from between 2010 and 2019 to highlight trends in maternal health related to diabetes, hypertension, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and severe maternal morbidity. Includes data by expected payer, patient characteristics, and geography. Includes large metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan comparisons throughout.
Author(s): Lawrence Reid, Kimberly Marin, Jessica Monnet
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Trends in Severe Maternal Morbidity Complications by Patient Characteristics, 2016–2021
Examines severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in U.S. women by patient characteristics and type of SMM complication. Utilizes 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data to analyze yearly trends, with breakdowns for patient age, race/ethnicity, insurance status, income, and residence by large metro, medium/small metro, or nonmetro. Discusses impacts of COVID-19 on SMM trends.
Author(s): Lawrence D. Reid
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
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Examines severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in U.S. women by patient characteristics and type of SMM complication. Utilizes 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data to analyze yearly trends, with breakdowns for patient age, race/ethnicity, insurance status, income, and residence by large metro, medium/small metro, or nonmetro. Discusses impacts of COVID-19 on SMM trends.
Author(s): Lawrence D. Reid
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
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States Could Better Leverage Coverage and Access Requirements To Promote Maternal Health Care Access in Medicaid Managed Care
Describes challenges to maternal healthcare access. Explores the provider coverage rules and network adequacy standards state Medicaid agencies have set for maternal healthcare in Medicaid managed care. Examines state oversight of quantitative network adequacy standards. Offers recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure access to pregnancy and postpartum care in Medicaid managed care. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Describes challenges to maternal healthcare access. Explores the provider coverage rules and network adequacy standards state Medicaid agencies have set for maternal healthcare in Medicaid managed care. Examines state oversight of quantitative network adequacy standards. Offers recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure access to pregnancy and postpartum care in Medicaid managed care. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination and Receipt of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Antibody (Nirsevimab) by Infants Aged <8 Months — United States, April 2024
Reports on maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination and administration of RSV antibody (nirsevimab) to infants. Includes data by location of residence for rural and nonrural areas.
Author(s): Hilda Razzaghi, Emma Garacci, Katherine E. Kahn, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(38), 837-843
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination and administration of RSV antibody (nirsevimab) to infants. Includes data by location of residence for rural and nonrural areas.
Author(s): Hilda Razzaghi, Emma Garacci, Katherine E. Kahn, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(38), 837-843
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Family Medicine Presence on Labor and Delivery: Effect on Safety Culture and Cesarean Delivery
Examines the presence of family medicine (FM) physicians and obstetricians (OBs) during labor and delivery. Utilizes survey data from 849 clinicians at 39 Iowa hospitals to analyze hospitals with FMs, OBs, or both and the association to safety culture and caesarean birth rates. Discusses the importance of FM physicians having intrapartum training and the impact on rural access to pregnancy care.
Author(s): Emily White VanGompel, Lavisha Singh, Francesca Carlock, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 22(5), 375-382
Date: 09/2024
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Examines the presence of family medicine (FM) physicians and obstetricians (OBs) during labor and delivery. Utilizes survey data from 849 clinicians at 39 Iowa hospitals to analyze hospitals with FMs, OBs, or both and the association to safety culture and caesarean birth rates. Discusses the importance of FM physicians having intrapartum training and the impact on rural access to pregnancy care.
Author(s): Emily White VanGompel, Lavisha Singh, Francesca Carlock, et al.
Citation: The Annals of Family Medicine, 22(5), 375-382
Date: 09/2024
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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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Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S. 2024
Explores maternal healthcare access and provides county-level U.S. maps that show maternity care deserts, hospitals that offer obstetric (OB) care, distribution of OB providers, travel time to maternity care, chronic conditions of birthing people, social drivers of health, and more. Includes rural versus urban characteristics of the maternal health workforce as well as access and policy discussions specific to rural areas.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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Explores maternal healthcare access and provides county-level U.S. maps that show maternity care deserts, hospitals that offer obstetric (OB) care, distribution of OB providers, travel time to maternity care, chronic conditions of birthing people, social drivers of health, and more. Includes rural versus urban characteristics of the maternal health workforce as well as access and policy discussions specific to rural areas.
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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Examining Rurality and Social Determinants of Health among Women with GDM: A 15-Year Comprehensive Population Analysis
Examines maternal demographic characteristics, including rurality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development over time. Utilizes birth record vital statistics of 589,605 women with live births in Kansas from 2005 to 2019. Compares rural and urban trends in maternal overweight, obesity, and GDM.
Author(s): Umama Ali, Laila Cure, Rhonda K. Lewis, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 24, 467
Date: 08/2024
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Examines maternal demographic characteristics, including rurality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development over time. Utilizes birth record vital statistics of 589,605 women with live births in Kansas from 2005 to 2019. Compares rural and urban trends in maternal overweight, obesity, and GDM.
Author(s): Umama Ali, Laila Cure, Rhonda K. Lewis, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 24, 467
Date: 08/2024
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Report to Congress: Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis in the United States: An Update from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve maternal health outcomes, including programs related to care delivery, access to care, and social factors influencing health. Presents data and discussion of maternal health trends, identifies key drivers, highlights relevant HHS programs and actions, and presents a framework to measure progress. Details rural access and outcome disparities and features rural-focused programs.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Reports on efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve maternal health outcomes, including programs related to care delivery, access to care, and social factors influencing health. Presents data and discussion of maternal health trends, identifies key drivers, highlights relevant HHS programs and actions, and presents a framework to measure progress. Details rural access and outcome disparities and features rural-focused programs.
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Rural-Urban Differences in Midwifery Care During Childbirth in the US
Compares rural and urban births that were midwife-attended. Highlights changes over time and locations of midwife-attended births including homes, hospitals, and more.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Alyssa H. Fritz, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Compares rural and urban births that were midwife-attended. Highlights changes over time and locations of midwife-attended births including homes, hospitals, and more.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Alyssa H. Fritz, Julia D. Interrante
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Last Updated: 10/24/2025