WLKY Louisville: Report: Nearly half of Kentucky’s counties classified as maternity care deserts

WLKY Louisville: Report: Nearly half of Kentucky's counties classified as maternity care deserts

WLKY reports that nearly half of Kentucky's counties are now classified as maternity care deserts, according to a new March of Dimes study. Women in these areas travel three times farther for maternal care, and more than 100,000 Kentucky mothers live over 30 minutes from a hospital with labor and delivery services, a gap felt most acutely in rural communities.

Dr. Mark Simon, OB/GYN and Chief Medical Officer of Ob Hospitalist Group, told WLKY that limited access discourages timely care-seeking, which can lead to poorer pregnancy outcomes. The report also points to disparities in preterm birth rates among Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic infants, and cites Medicaid cuts, hospital unit closures, and workforce shortages as key drivers.

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