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Hospital closures and obstetric service reductions have in more than 5.5 million women living in counties with no or limited access to maternity care services, a March of Dimes found. More than one-third of counties are classified as maternity care deserts and over half of all counties do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care other than on an emergency basis. These results are consistent with other national estimates of rural obstetric care, including a 2022 . The American Hospital Association has highlighted the challenge of providing obstetric services in rural areas. It provides members with resources to improve maternal and child health through the Better Health for initiative. (AHA News , 9/13/24)