On Maternal Health Awareness Day, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is shedding light on the importance of maternal health and the work that’s been done to improve maternal health outcomes in Virginia.
What is Maternal Health?
Maternal health refers to the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and after childbirth (postpartum). It includes physical, emotional, and mental health.
Maternal health includes access to:
- Quality prenatal care
- Safe delivery services
- Postpartum support
- Prevention and management of health conditions that can affect pregnancy outcomes
When people can access quality maternal health resources it can help:
- Reduce the risk of complications
- Support healthy babies and mothers
- Ensure mothers have the support they need before, during, and after pregnancy
Maternal Health in Virginia
Maternal mortality (death) rates in Virginia have been going down since their peak in 2021. Yet, some populations are affected more than others.
Maternal Health Disparities
In 2023, Virginia’s maternal mortality rates for Black women were more than double compared to non-Hispanic White women. Additionally, people of color have lower rates of adequate prenatal care and may be less likely to receive services such as important health screenings and appropriate monitoring of baby’s growth.
In 2023 in Virginia:
- 11.9 % of Hispanic women had late or no prenatal care
- 9.4% American Indian or Alaska Native women had late or no prenatal care
- 5.8% of Black or African American women had late or no prenatal care
- 4.5% of Asian or Pacific Islander woman had late or no prenatal care
- 3.8 % White women had late or no prenatal care
Access to Care
In Virginia, rural and underserved communities continue to face limited access to care:
- According to March of Dimes, 31% of counties are defined as maternity care deserts. These are areas that lack adequate maternity care resources, such as birthing hospitals and obstetric providers.
- Women in maternity deserts travel over three times farther than those with full access.
- 15% of women had no birthing hospital within 30 minutes.