41 rural Iowa hospitals closed labor and delivery units since 2000, leaving over half of rural US hospitals without obstetrics services.
41 rural Iowa hospitals have closed their labor and delivery units since 2000 due to decreasing birth rates, leaving over half of rural US hospitals without obstetrics services. This trend is driven by Americans having smaller families or none at all, and reliance on modern birth control methods. This closure of units presents challenges for pregnant women who lack reliable transportation and flexible schedules for accessing prenatal care and birthing services.
July 15, 2024
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