NIH Addresses Maternity Care Deserts and Maternal Mortality in the U.S.

Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.

In 2024, the United States recorded 649 maternal deaths, with a maternal mortality rate of 17.9 per 100,000 live births—higher than in other peer nations.

More than 5.5 million women live in maternity care deserts, where no hospitals or birth centers provide obstetric care and there are no available obstetric providers. This challenge is expected to worsen as hospitals close or reduce obstetric services, especially in rural areas.

Maternal mortality rates in rural areas are reported to be up to 65% higher than in urban areas, reflecting disparities in health conditions and access to care. Factors such as age and pre-existing conditions also contribute, but geographic and quality barriers are significant.

The National Institutes of Health emphasizes involving community members and organizations, including social support networks like fathers and extended families, in the research process. This engagement aims to improve research relevance and effectiveness in preventing maternal deaths and adverse outcomes.

However, community organizations face challenges to fully participate in biomedical research due to limited infrastructure and unfamiliarity with research funding, hindering their leadership or partnership roles in maternal health research.