Information for Rural Stakeholders About Access to Maternity and Obstetric Care: A Community-Relevant Synthesis of Research
Link
Date
09/2024
Description
This document aims to inform rural stakeholders about challenges related to access to and quality of hospital-based childbirth care in rural U.S. communities. It summarizes available data on:
- Challenges of providing obstetric services in rural settings.
- Quality and outcomes of care at low-volume rural obstetric units.
- Risks associated with rural obstetric unit closures.
- Challenges faced by communities without hospital-based obstetric care.
Researchers also describe clinical and policy efforts to improve access and quality of care for birthing people and their infants in low-volume rural obstetric units and in rural communities that lack access to hospital-based obstetric care. This synthesis provides information about the potential effects of decisions that rural stakeholders make about health care and community resources.
Center
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Authors
Katy Kozhimannil, Julia Interrante, Alyssa Fritz, Emily Sheffield, Caitlin Carroll, Sara Handley