What is a maternity care desert and if/why you live in one.
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Friend, imagine this: You or someone you love just found out that
they’re pregnant. Immediately, one wonders, “What are my next steps?” So
naturally, you begin to search online for your nearest physician, only to
find out that the nearest maternity ward has closed down and you have to
travel nearly 50 miles for care. Now what?
[ [link removed] ]This is the current reality for many women in communities across the
country. We need Congress to step in immediately to ensure that every
woman has access to affordable, high-quality and comprehensive
reproductive care, including maternity care!
There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity
care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no
hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no
doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in
contraception deserts.[1] So, if I’m doing the math right, this means that
over 21 million women have little to no access to doctors that could
provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about reproductive
health, provide information about abortion services, and are living
without reasonable access to health centers that offers a full range of
reproductive care methods. The harsh impacts of limited access to
maternity care, the closure of maternity wards, strict or prohibited
abortion laws, racial and socioeconomic injustices, and the consequences
on pregnant women and their babies collectively form a complex and nuanced
crisis in our healthcare system that leaves vulnerable populations at high
risk.
A study published in 2019 found that people living in rural areas faced a
9% higher risk of maternal health issues and deaths compared to those
living in urban areas. It's important to note that women of color,
irrespective of where they live, had at least a 33% higher likelihood of
experiencing these negative outcomes compared to white women.[ [link removed] ][ [link removed] ] This
is especially concerning because, as we already know, whether they live in
cities or rural areas and regardless of how much money they have (i.e.
Serena Williams) [ [link removed] ], Black women lose their lives at 3 to 4 times more
than the rate of white women due to maternity-related causes, independent
of age, economic background, or education.[ [link removed] ] This is not okay.
[2]Join us and urge Congress to take action on the pressing issue of
maternity care deserts that is currently plaguing rural communities and do
more to protect expecting mothers and individuals in need of reproductive
care!
We cannot ignore the racist history, intentionally placed barriers to
informed family planning and lack of access to reproductive healthcare,
that has left permanent scars on the communities of Black people,
Indigenous tribes, and communities of color.[ [link removed] ] Unsurprisingly, as with
maternal mortality rates, Black, Indigenous and other people of color bear
a disproportionate burden of maternal mental health conditions, including
postpartum depression. So on top of maternity care deserts, the racial
disparities in maternal mental health is exacerbated in many small cities
and rural communities with postpartum depression at a rate of 40 percent
greater in Latina mothers and 80 percent greater in Black mothers compared
to their white counterparts.
It is essential to confront this history, include it in our advocacy, and
recognize the ongoing trauma that is being perpetuated everyday by some of
our elected leaders. These groups have endured generations of systemic
discrimination, from forced sterilizations to unequal access to healthcare
resources.[6] Acknowledging this history is a critical step in addressing
the deeply ingrained disparities that persist in healthcare today.
For all of these women, receiving maternity care, prenatal and postnatal
treatment, mental health services, contraception, and abortion-care is not
just about showing up to the appointment. There’s so much more to consider
here: traveling long distances to receive prenatal care or give birth,
which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery;
childcare (finding and paying a babysitter); hotel lodging; taking time
off work; and having all of this to consider even under emergency
situations.
[3]Sign on with us and tell Congress to address issues that block access
to reproductive and maternity care!
Most recently, Idaho implemented three near-total abortion bans: the first
one forbids abortion after only six weeks of pregnancy, the second ban
prohibits all abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life
of the pregnant individual is at risk, and the third ban allows family
members to file lawsuits against doctors in civil court if they believe
abortion care was provided.[ [link removed] ] They even banned teens from travelling out
of state to receive abortion care, punishable by a minimum of two years in
prison for anyone who assists with out of state travel.[ [link removed] ] Sounds
familiar, huh? That’s because since 2020, we have seen copy-cat bills like
this come into fruition day by day! *Coughs at Texas, who jump-started it
all* Stories from women across the country tell us that limited access to
abortion, a fundamental aspect of reproductive healthcare, is imperative.
Patients, like us, aren’t the only ones suffering here. The recent surge
in restrictive abortion laws in various states has forced many healthcare
providers to choose between their ethical commitment to patient care and
the fear of legal consequences. This has led to a disturbing trend where
physicians, particularly those with expertise in obstetrics and
gynecology, are fleeing states with harsh abortion laws. Jessen, a recent
medical school graduate who planned on returning back to her hometown in
Idaho and serving as an OBGYN, states her confliction, “Do you put your
desire to have a family in a safe area first, or your desire to be a
full-scope provider who can provide abortion care? It's painful."[8]
We thank our legislative champions for their dedication to maternal and
reproductive justice by prioritizing maternal health, the well-being of
newborns, and fighting to protect our right to choose when and how we have
children! In ensuring that no one gets left behind, we ask that you take
your advocacy further by urging members of Congress to ensure that
everyone has access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services,
regardless of their geographic location. [link removed]
--Diarra, Tina, Monifa, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org &
MamásConPoder Team
References:
[1] AP News: [4]Rural hospitals are closing maternity wards. People are
seeking options to give birth closer to home
[2] NBC News: [5]Pregnant with no OB-GYNs around: In Idaho, maternity care
became a casualty of its abortion ban
[3] Kozhimannil KB, Interrante JD, Henning-Smith C, Admon LK. Rural-Urban
Differences In Severe Maternal Morbidity And Mortality In The US, 2007–15.
Health Aff (Millwood). Dec 2019;38(12):2077–2085.
[4] USA Today: [6]Serena Williams describes near-death experience she had
after giving birth to daughter Olympia
[5] Tucker MJ, Berg CJ, Callaghan WM, Hsia J. The Black-White disparity in
pregnancy-related mortality from 5 conditions: differences in prevalence
and case-fatality rates. Am J Public Health. 2007 Feb;97(2):247-51. doi:
10.2105/AJPH.2005.072975. Epub 2006 Dec 28. PMID: 17194867; PMCID:
PMC1781382.
[6] Prather C, Fuller TR, Marshall KJ, Jeffries WL 4th. The Impact of
Racism on the Sexual and Reproductive Health of African American Women. J
Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016 Jul;25(7):664-71. doi:
10.1089/jwh.2015.5637. Epub 2016 May 26. PMID: 27227533; PMCID:
PMC4939479.
[7] Today.com: [7]Idaho hospital closes its maternity ward, citing the
state’s ‘political climate’
[8] CNN: [8]Idaho AG sued over travel ban
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