Miles from Maternity: A scoping review of obstetric care experiences in maternal care deserts
Abstract
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Access to obstetric care services is essential in promoting positive health outcomes and ensuring the safety of mothers and infants. Most hospitals and obstetric care providers in the United States are in urban, populated cities. This healthcare landscape has resulted in a misdistribution of resources. Data reveals that 32.4% of counties in the United States do not have access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering obstetric care, or obstetric providers.1 These counties are defined by March of Dimes as “maternal care deserts”. In Georgia, nearly 35% of counties are considered maternal care deserts. Research has shown that women residing in maternal health deserts experience “poorer health before pregnancy, receive less prenatal care, and experience higher rates of preterm birth.1 Rural counties in Georgia are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of maternal health deserts, as these areas have experienced significant hospital closures and provider shortages in the last decade.2 This project aims to explore the obstetric care experiences of women residing in maternal care deserts in Georgia. Methodology: A scoping review was performed to identify emerging categorical themes and gaps in knowledge. Several maternal health desert-related articles were identified using keywords across multiple databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SageJournals) and those reviewed met inclusion criteria: published after 2010 and rural versus urban United States focus (n=40). Results: Preliminary results reveal emerging themes of social support challenges, difficulties establishing and maintaining adequate care, and lack of transportation. No study assessed the rural maternal care desert experience in Georgia. Next Steps: To address knowledge gaps on the maternal health experiences of women residing in rural southern counties, we will conduct focus group discussions with participatory mapping to assess the maternal care journeys, challenges, and recommendations for improved access among women in rural Georgia.
Keywords
Maternal care desert, rural, Georgia, maternal care, maternal and child health, accessibility, travel distance
Conflict of Interest Form
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Miles from Maternity: A scoping review of obstetric care experiences in maternal care deserts
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Access to obstetric care services is essential in promoting positive health outcomes and ensuring the safety of mothers and infants. Most hospitals and obstetric care providers in the United States are in urban, populated cities. This healthcare landscape has resulted in a misdistribution of resources. Data reveals that 32.4% of counties in the United States do not have access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering obstetric care, or obstetric providers.1 These counties are defined by March of Dimes as “maternal care deserts”. In Georgia, nearly 35% of counties are considered maternal care deserts. Research has shown that women residing in maternal health deserts experience “poorer health before pregnancy, receive less prenatal care, and experience higher rates of preterm birth.1 Rural counties in Georgia are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of maternal health deserts, as these areas have experienced significant hospital closures and provider shortages in the last decade.2 This project aims to explore the obstetric care experiences of women residing in maternal care deserts in Georgia. Methodology: A scoping review was performed to identify emerging categorical themes and gaps in knowledge. Several maternal health desert-related articles were identified using keywords across multiple databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SageJournals) and those reviewed met inclusion criteria: published after 2010 and rural versus urban United States focus (n=40). Results: Preliminary results reveal emerging themes of social support challenges, difficulties establishing and maintaining adequate care, and lack of transportation. No study assessed the rural maternal care desert experience in Georgia. Next Steps: To address knowledge gaps on the maternal health experiences of women residing in rural southern counties, we will conduct focus group discussions with participatory mapping to assess the maternal care journeys, challenges, and recommendations for improved access among women in rural Georgia.
