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Scarce maternity care is particularly concerning for Black mothers : NPR
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- Nadia Gramby, a Black midwife in Alabama, travels long distances to provide personalized maternity care to families, addressing the lack of hospital-based labor and delivery services in many U.S. counties known as maternity care deserts.
- The March of Dimes 2026 report reveals that 35% of U.S. counties lack birthing facilities or obstetric clinicians, disproportionately affecting women of color and contributing to higher maternal and infant mortality rates.
- Midwives like Gramby play a critical role in expanding access to maternity care, offering holistic, personalized support that can reduce cesarean rates and complications, yet face legal and insurance barriers in many states.
- The report highlights systemic challenges including Medicaid cuts, obstetrics workforce shortages, and hospital maternity ward closures, which exacerbate risks for pregnant women, especially Black and Indigenous mothers.
- Advocates call for policy changes to allow midwives greater independence and hospital privileges, emphasizing the need for collaborative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and combat persistent disparities.
