Maternal Mortality in Rural Areas: What explains the disparity by location?

Recent attention has been given to the increase in maternal mortality in the United States, and low-income women and rural women seem to share more of the mortality burden. Increased reporting standards may explain some of... [ view full abstract ]

Recent attention has been given to the increase in maternal mortality in the United States, and low-income women and rural women seem to share more of the mortality burden. Increased reporting standards may explain some of the increase, while changes in the demographic characteristics of pregnant women (older age at first birth and increased hypertension, diabetes, and obesity among younger mothers) may explain some of the increase as well. However, the US still has a much higher than expected maternal mortality rate than other developed countries, and maternal mortality seems to disproportionately impact rural mothers. This paper uses Compressed Mortality Files from the CDC from 1999-2012, merged with Area Resource File and American Community Survey data, to assess how many excess deaths in rural areas are due to lack of health care infrastructure to meet the needs of pregnant women and new mothers. Health policy must address the new and emerging health care needs of rural women if the maternal mortality rate is to be reduced.