"A new nationwide study has revealed the ten U.S. states where maternity care is most at risk - with severe midwife shortages and high preterm birth rates creating dangerous conditions for expecting mothers. The research, conducted by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, analyzed the availability of midwives and preterm birth rates across all 50 states to rank where maternity care access and outcomes are most concerning."
"Each state received a Maternity Risk Score out of 100, calculated using two key indicators: Average Births to Midwife Ratio (2023) - reflecting how many births each certified midwife handles on average. Average Preterm Birth Rates (2018-2022) - the percentage of babies born before 37 weeks' gestation. A higher score represents greater maternity care concerns, from limited access to skilled professionals to increased rates of early or medically complicated births."
"The results show a clear pattern: Southern and Midwestern states dominate the list, highlighting ongoing disparities in maternal healthcare. Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana rank as the top three states with the most severe challenges, while Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas also appear among the top six. These states often suffer from widespread maternal care deserts - areas where hospitals and certified midwives are scarce or entirely unavailable, forcing women to travel long distances for essential prenatal care."
A nationwide analysis of midwife availability and preterm birth rates across all 50 states assigns each state a Maternity Risk Score out of 100 using two indicators: average births per midwife (2023) and average preterm birth rates (2018–2022). Higher scores indicate limited access to skilled professionals and higher early or complicated births. Southern and Midwestern states, particularly Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, show the worst outcomes, often characterized by maternal care deserts requiring long travel for prenatal services. States such as Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington show stronger midwifery networks, better prenatal programs, and higher healthcare investment per birth.
Read at Social Media Explorer
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]