US maternal unit closures may raise maternal death rates and harm infant health.
Maternity Units in Decline, Leaving Rural Communities in Need
Maternity units in hospitals are facing a decline, resulting in longer travel times for expectant mothers in rural communities. The decrease in staffing and low birth rates have made hospitals with minimal births less attractive to doctors and nurses, according to hospital executive Dr. Michal Cruz.
Dr. Cruz, the chief operating officer for OSF HealthCare hospital system in Illinois, stated, “There’s just not enough babies to be had.”
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A recent report by March of Dimes revealed that nearly 6.9 million births are impacted in areas with limited or no access to maternity units. This includes a 5 percent increase in counties that have reduced their access since 2020. In maternity-care deserts, approximately 2.2 million women and up to 150,000 babies are affected.
Stacey Brayboy, the senior vice president of public policy and government affairs at March of Dimes, described the situation as a crisis, stating, “Women are struggling to access care, and that’s before and during and after their pregnancies, and we’ve seen an increase in terms of maternal and infant deaths.”
Alecia McGregor, an assistant professor of Health Policy and Politics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized the need for federal action to prevent further closures and maternal death rates and harm infant health.”>ensure adequate payment levels for Medicaid.
Potential Increase in Maternal Death Rates
The decline in maternity units could have severe consequences, including an increase in maternal death rates and a decline in infant health. The United States already has the highest maternal death rate among high-income countries.
A survey by the National Center for Health Statistics reported a 40 percent rise in the number of women who died during or after childbirth in 2021. This increase raised the maternal mortality rate to 33 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest since 1965.
Closure in Oregon
St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City, Oregon, recently announced the closure of its obstetrics and birth center department. This decision has raised concerns among local nurses and the community, as it will require expectant mothers to travel up to 45 minutes to the nearest hospital.
The closure of the birth center, which serves approximately 125 families each year, has been described as heartbreaking. St. Alphonsus also closed its intensive care unit earlier this year due to staffing shortages and financial trends.
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have called for the hospital to reverse its decision, offering federal, state, and local nursing service resources to help keep the maternity services in place.
The closure has been temporarily delayed by four weeks in response to community concerns.
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