A maternity care desert (also called an obstetric desert) is a county where there is no hospital or birth center offering obstetric (OB) services. Sometimes these areas have no OB providers at all. For pregnant women living in these areas, that means significantly longer travel times for prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, which can delay or complicate access. In Indiana, the problem is especially pronounced: about 23.9% of counties are classified as maternity care deserts, among the highest rates in the Midwest (March of Dimes). These gaps in care contribute to disparities in prenatal care, higher risk of adverse outcomes, and place added burden on families who must make difficult travel arrangements for safe, timely maternal healthcare.
Pregnancy and Rural Health in Indiana
We are building an interactive map of maternity care deserts in Indiana. Until it's ready to be shared on the website, please view the March of Dimes' map of the distance to birthing hospitals by county.