Comparing Measurement of Maternity Care Target Areas and Maternity Care Deserts
Description:
There are two measurement approaches used to identify areas which may have lower access to high quality maternal health care – Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTAs), which are calculated by the Bureau of Health Workforce (part of the Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA]) as a sub-measure of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), and Maternity Care Deserts (MCDs), which are calculated by the March of Dimes. More guidance is needed, however, on how to use these measures when addressing access to care in policymaking and practice. This study would address that gap by comparing MCTAs and MCDs – examining how these measures align and how they are applied, the types of questions that can be addressed by each measure, and how these measures may geographically overlap.
Lead Researcher: Paula Kett, PhD, MPH, RN
Contact Info: pmk@uw.edu
Funder:
HRSA: HWRC Health Equity
Status:
In Progress