Nearly half of Arkansas counties (age 37) are “maternity care deserts,” defined as counties with no hospitals or birth centers that provide maternity care, and no maternity care providers. report Analysis of medical resource and service management data by March of Dimes.
Nationwide, 36% of counties, home to 2.2 million women of childbearing age, meet the maternity care desert definition. According to the report, most maternity care deserts are in the South and Midwest regions of the country. I also know
The report notes that the number of counties nationwide meeting the desert definition of maternity care – 1,119 – represents a 2% increase since the organization released its last report in 2020. .
In addition to the 37 Arkansas counties that meet the maternity care desert definition, another four counties were deemed to have “low” access to maternity care services. This is due to the fact that these counties have at most one hospital or birthing center that provides maternity care, few maternity care providers, or women aged 18-64 who do not have health insurance. means a high percentage of
The findings provide important context for policy makers and advocates working to address both maternal and child mortality in the state. data According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate of any state reporting data, with 40.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births between 2018 and 2020. I’m here. infant mortality In 2020, 7.38 infants died per 1,000 live births.
This report contains a number of policy recommendations to address gaps in postnatal care. This includes state action to extend Medicaid postnatal coverage to 12 months; provision of evidence-based telemedicine maternal services coverage; improved maternal mortality and morbidity data collection; Such as prioritizing recommendations. Mortality Board.
In Arkansas, efforts are underway to address the state’s maternity care gap.
- The Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee was established by legislation in 2019 and is tasked with identifying and characterizing maternal mortality in Arkansas with the goal of identifying opportunities for prevention.
- of UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation High-Risk Pregnancy Program Access evidence-based care guidelines, research, healthcare education, a 24/7 call center, and telemedicine consultations with board-certified maternal-fetal medicine experts wherever you live in the state. We care for high-risk pregnant women and babies.
- The state’s Medicaid expansion program, Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME), includes programmatic efforts to improve maternity care. Under the Maternal Life360 Home program, part of the Life360 HOMEs program approved today (Nov. We provide home visiting services for women in 2 years after the baby was born.
