Midwife Addresses Maternal Care Gaps in Alabama

Why it matters locally: Virginia, like many other states, faces challenges in maternal care access, particularly in rural areas where 'maternity deserts' may exist, making the national conversation on expanding care models relevant to ongoing efforts within the Commonwealth to improve health outcomes for pregnant individuals.

More than half of all counties in the United States do not have hospitals that offer labor and delivery services, according to recent research from the March of Dimes. One Black midwife is working to provide care to pregnant individuals in Alabama. This work directly addresses the expanding areas of the U.S. with limited or no access to maternity care, often termed 'maternity deserts.' The image accompanying the report shows a midwife traveling across Alabama to care for pregnant individuals and deliver babies. Maria Fabrizio created the image.