Publication Date: July 27th, 2023
Publication Type(s): Policy Brief
Topic(s): Health Disparities and Health Equity, Healthcare Access, Maternal Health, Mental and Behavioral Health, Social Determinants of Health, Women
Author(s): Interrante JD, Chastain P, and Kozhimannil KB
The postpartum year after childbirth is a crucial time for the detection and prevention of maternal health complications; yet many postpartum people do not receive all of the recommended components of postpartum care (contraceptive counseling, depression screening, smoking screening, abuse screening, eating and exercise discussions, and birth spacing counseling). Rural residents face greater barriers to accessing postpartum care and support as rural obstetric units continue to close, in addition to experiencing higher rates of poverty, food insecurity, violence, and comorbidities that can increase risks for poor postpartum outcomes. The purpose of this policy brief is to measure state-level differences in the receipt of recommended postpartum care components among rural and urban residents in the United States who gave birth from 2016 to 2019.