Obstetric Care Accessibility Trends

A significant portion of hospitals in the United States lack obstetric services, with 52.4% of rural hospitals and 35.7% of urban hospitals not offering such care in 2022. This statistic highlights a concerning trend in maternal health access, particularly in rural areas where closures of obstetric units have been more pronounced. Patients and clinicians alike may be shocked by these figures, as it underscores the fact that many hospitals are not prepared to support labor and delivery, which is often unexpected. This discrepancy plays a crucial role in the ongoing maternal health crisis and raises alarms regarding the implications for communities that are already underserved.