Story perspectives

Study Reveals Declining Access to Maternity Care for Pregnant Women

4/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds more pregnant women in the United States face longer travel distances for maternity care.
In counties that lost all hospital-based obstetric services, access declined from over 90% in 2010 to about 60% in 2021.
Brittany Ranchoff, lead investigator at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, says reduced access, especially in rural areas, increases stress and risk during pregnancy and childbirth.

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Story summary

A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds more pregnant women in the United States face longer travel distances for maternity care.
In counties that lost all hospital-based obstetric services, access declined from over 90% in 2010 to about 60% in 2021.
Brittany Ranchoff, lead investigator at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, says reduced access, especially in rural areas, increases stress and risk during pregnancy and childbirth.