Obstetric Care Access Declined In Rural And Urban Hospitals Across US States, 2010-22

Health Aff (Millwood). 2025 Jul;44(7):806-811. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2024.01552.

Abstract

We identified obstetric service status for every rural and urban short-term acute care hospital in every US state. During 2010-22, seven states had at least 25 percent of hospitals close their obstetric service lines. By 2022, more than two-thirds of rural hospitals in eight states were without obstetric services.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility* / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Services Accessibility* / trends
  • Hospitals, Rural* / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospitals, Urban* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • United States