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Rural Maternal Health – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Maternal Health.

Precious Moments: Tribal Home Visiting Programs Support Families During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Provides an overview of how 7 Tribal Home Visiting grantees provide support to American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) families during pregnancy and postpartum. Focuses on providing culturally competent care related to AI/AN traditions, addressing historical and personal trauma in caregiving, improving maternal health outcomes, and providing education on breastfeeding, postpartum depression, healthy diet, and more.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, Tribal Home Visiting
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Obstetrics: U.S. Rural Hospitals
Infographic presenting statistics on obstetrics care in rural community hospitals in the U.S. Includes data on the number of births in rural hospitals, rural hospitals without obstetrics units, obstetric unit closures, and the number of women of reproductive age who live in maternity care deserts.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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A Critical Review on the Complex Interplay between Social Determinants of Health and Maternal and Infant Mortality
Reports on a critical review of maternal and infant mortality literature to observe how social determinants of health relate to health disparities for mothers and babies of racial/ethnic minorities, less privileged socioeconomic statuses, and rural geographies. Includes discussion about rural versus urban differences in maternal and infant mortality.
Author(s): Rada K. Dagher, Deborah E. Linares
Citation: Children, 9(3), 394
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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Rural Hospital Administrators' Beliefs About Safety, Financial Viability, and Community Need for Offering Obstetric Care
Examines beliefs about the financial viability and need for rural obstetric care based on surveys completed by 93 rural hospital administrators. Discusses the volume necessary to provide safe obstetric care, priorities related to local community need, and issues related to workforce and policy.
Author(s): Katy B. Kozhimannil, Julia D. Interrante, Lindsay K. Admon, Bridget L. Basile Ibrahim
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(3), e220204
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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Cardiometabolic Health after First Pregnancy: Associations with Social Determinants of Health. A nuMoM2b-HHS Study
Examines connections between social determinants of health and metabolic syndrome after first pregnancy, including hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Reports on metabolic syndrome in 4,484 participants broken down by income, education, acculturation, social support, insurance, and health literacy. Includes rural versus urban data in Table 2.
Author(s): N.A. Bello, J. Moore, E. C. Miller, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal Plus: Cardiology Research and Practice, 13
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Prenatal Telemedicine During COVID-19: Patterns of Use and Barriers to Access
Study examining patient experiences with prenatal telemedicine based on a survey of 164 pregnant patients at a rural New England medical center. Covers barriers to accessing care, internet access, remote surveillance tools, and engagement with providers.
Author(s): Allie Morgan, Daisy Goodman, Julia Vinagolu-Baur, Ilana Cass
Citation: JAMIA Open, 5(1)
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Trends in the Incidence of New‐Onset Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Among Rural and Urban Areas in the United States, 2007 to 2019
Examines 51,685,525 live births in rural and urban women between 2007 and 2019 to study incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Provides Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Natality Database statistics and data broken down by rural/urban category, age, race/ethnicity, and census region, among others. Discusses impacts of trend changes in hypertensive disorders in both rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Natalie A. Cameron, Ian Everitt, Laura E. Seegmiller, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Heart Association, 11(2)
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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America's Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report 2022
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Policies for Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality and Enhancing Equity in Maternal Health: A Review of the Evidence
Examines maternal health in relation to social determinants of health (SDOH), addressing disparities for Black, rural, veteran, and incarcerated mothers. Highlights environmental and healthcare issues, as well as strategies to improve maternal health outcomes through workforce initiatives, data collection, and policy changes.
Author(s): Jodie G. Katon, Daniel A. Enquobahrie, Kate Jacobsen, Laurie Zephyrin
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Health Disparities in Rural Women
Discusses the health disparities that exist for rural women in all categories of women's health, including obstetric and gynecologic outcomes and access to care. Covers programs to improve healthcare services for rural women and recommendations to reduce health disparities.
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Last Updated: 5/10/2024