10/28/2026
Where you live shouldn't determine whether you survive pregnancy.
A study published by the March of Dimes in August 2026 revealed that over one-third of counties in the United States are maternity care deserts—areas with no hospitals or facilities that offer obstetric care.
Tennessee and Mississippi rank highest and second-highest, respectively, for maternal mortality rate in the United States. These two states also have a significant number of counties that are maternity care deserts.
As hospitals close and providers leave due to lack of facilities and restrictive laws on care, maternal outcomes continue to worsen. The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable—but prevention requires access, and that comes from policy, and investment in healthcare infrastructure.
Read more about maternity care deserts on our blog:
How the lack of reproductive healthcare and lack of abortion access leads to worse maternal health outcomes.