AV on Health: Maternity Care Deserts

A maternity care desert is a locality where pregnant people have little to no access to maternity health care services. In Virginia, 32% of counties are maternity care deserts, with many in the Hampton Roads area. This is especially troubling as African American women have a much higher death rate in childbirth than any other racial or ethnic group. We explore why this disparity exists, and what moms-to-be are doing to ensure a healthy childbirth experience.