How Do Birth Outcomes Differ in Maternity Care Desert Counties Compared to Others?
Description:
Since 2018, when the March of Dimes introduced the Maternity Care Desert (MCD) metric, there has been increasing attention paid to addressing the lack of access to maternal care present in many counties in the U.S. However, few have examined the health impacts of living in an MCD and how changes in a county’s access to maternity care over time are associated with birth outcomes such as low birthweight and preterm birth rates. This study will use a retrospective longitudinal analysis of Area Health Resource File (AHRF) and CDC WONDER data from 2018-2024 (the most recent available) to examine how maternal and infant health outcomes are impacted with varied access to maternal care and what factors are associated with changes in access.
Lead Researcher: Paula Kett, PhD, MPH, RN
Contact Info: pmk@uw.edu
Funder:
HRSA: HWRC Health Equity
Status:
In Progress