The UA Center for Rural Health (AzCRH) recently release healthcare workforce data briefs on Maternal Health and the Obstetrician and Gynecologist Physician Workforce in Arizona. Access to timely and high-quality women’s health and primary care services is an essential component of a supporting maternal health. In the report, you’ll see that Greenlee and La Paz counties are maternal care deserts and Cochise, Graham Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties have limited access to maternal care.
Women in rural Arizona face barriers to maternal health care including a lower ratio of Ob-gyn providers per population. In general, women in rural areas have additional barriers like longer drive-times and fewer facilities offering obstetric services.
Reports like this are important as they can be used to inform and influence both elected officials in the legislature and appointed officials in state agencies and universities. Thoughtfully used- this kind of data can help inform legislative and administrative policy initiatives that can help improve the system of care for women (like the new tuition waiver program mentioned above).