Rural-Urban Disparities in Adverse Maternal Outcomes in the United States, 2016-2019

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal Health
• Rural Health Disparities

Background:

• Maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the United States are a significant public health concern.
• Geographic location, particularly rural versus urban settings, may influence access to care and health outcomes for pregnant individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare maternal intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality rates between rural and urban areas in the U.S.
• To identify potential disparities in maternal healthcare outcomes based on geographic location.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide analysis of maternal ICU admissions and mortality.
• Calculation of age-standardized rates and rate ratios (RRs) per 100,000 live births.
• Data collected between 2016 and 2019, comparing rural and urban populations.

Main Results:

• Maternal ICU admission rates showed a small but significant increase in rural areas compared to urban areas (2019 RR = 1.14).
• Maternal mortality rates increased in both rural and urban areas, with nearly double the rate in rural areas (2019 RR = 1.93).

Conclusions:

• Pregnant individuals in rural areas face higher risks of ICU admission and mortality.
• Significant increases in maternal mortality were observed in both rural and urban settings, underscoring a nationwide issue.
• Public health interventions must prioritize resource-limited rural areas to address maternal health disparities.