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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Maternal health and prenatal care

Trends in Singleton Preterm Birth by Rural Status in the U.S., 2012-2018
Policy brief showing variations in preterm birth by demographics, payment method, and participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) during pregnancy. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Maria J. Perez-Patron, Robin L. Page, Samson Olowolaju, Brandie D. Taylor
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Rural and Urban Hospital Characteristics by Obstetric Service Provision Status, 2010-2018
Illustrates the differences between urban and rural hospitals providing obstetric (OB) services. Compares them by size, capacity, location, and community characteristics, and compares these factors between rural hospitals with OB units and those that had discontinued services during the study period. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural location.
Additional links: Characteristics of Rural and Urban U.S. Hospitals Based on Obstetric Services
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Mariana S. Tuttle, Bridget Basile Ibrahim, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Texas Primary Care Office Needs Assessment, 2021
Reports on healthcare disparities, communities with unmet healthcare needs, and barriers to primary, mental, and dental healthcare access in Texas. Includes data and discussion of healthcare workforce shortages and shortage designations, Texas Primary Care Office programs and services, state demographics, and more. Mentions rural throughout, with pages 37-41 discussing rural-specific health outcomes and service availability challenges in depth.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Primary Care Office
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New Hampshire Statewide Primary Care Needs Assessment
Identifies the New Hampshire communities with the greatest unmet healthcare needs, disparities, and health workforce shortages, and also identifies the key barriers to accessing healthcare for these communities. Features statistics on demographics, barriers to care, workforce, preventive care, substance use and mental health, maternal health, and outcomes, with breakdowns by rural and nonrural locations. Data in this report represents the New Hampshire landscape from 2013-2019, prior to COVID-19 impacts.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: New Hampshire Rural Health & Primary Care
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Projections of Supply and Demand for Women's Health Service Providers: 2018-2030
Presents projections of supply and demand for obstetricians/gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, and discusses the contribution of family medicine physicians in the delivery of women's health services. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan location.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Bureau of Health Workforce, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
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Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis
Documentation of a March 23, 2021, House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on maternal health disparities. Discusses causes and possible policy options to reduce these disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
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Partnering to Improve Birth Outcomes in a Rural Community: Kearny County Hospital, Lakin, KS
Highlights the Pioneer Baby program, a partnership between Kearny County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in rural Lakin, Kansas, and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. Discusses how funding from grants and local employers enhanced the obstetrics program. Describes how the partnership worked to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and presents lessons learned.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Rural Obstetric Unit Closures and Maternal and Infant Health
Policy paper examining the discontinuation of obstetric services in rural communities. Discusses factors contributing to obstetric unit closures, including hospital financial constraints, Medicaid reimbursement rates, and maternal health workforce concerns. Offers policy recommendations to prevent additional obstetric unit closures in rural areas.
Author(s): Lindsay Corcoran, Catherine Clary, Sarah Brinkman
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Adolescent Birth Rates and Rural–Urban Differences by Levels of Deprivation and Health Professional Shortage Areas in the United States, 2017–2018
Provides rural versus urban data on birth rates in females aged 15 to 19 years by county area deprivation index (ADI), Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), race/ethnicity, and healthcare resources. Utilizes 2017-2018 data from the National Center for Health Statistics, American Community Survey 5-year population estimates, and the Area Health Resources Files.
Author(s): Sylvester O. Orimaye, Nathan Hale, Edward Leinaar, Michael G. Smith, Amal Khoury
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 136-144
Date: 01/2021
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The Essential Role of Family Physicians in Providing Cesarean Sections in Rural Communities
Policy brief describing percentages of family physicians (FPs) providing obstetric services and cesarean deliveries as the primary surgeon, using data from the 2017 and 2018 American Board of Family Medicine's Family Medicine Certification Examination registration questionnaire for FPs seeking to continue their certification. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban, micropolitan, large rural, and small rural locations.
Author(s): Sebastian T. Tong, Aimee R. Eden, Zachary J. Morgan, Andrew W. Bazemore, Lars E. Peterson
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 34(1), 10-11
Date: 01/2021
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