Report: Nearly Half of Georgia Counties Lack Maternity Care

A new March of Dimes report finds that maternity care access remains a significant problem across Georgia, with nearly 44% of the state's counties classified as "maternity care deserts" — areas with no birthing facility and no obstetric clinician. Those counties are home to roughly 158,000 women of reproductive age, and about 10,000 babies are born there each year. The gaps go beyond clinicians. Close to 65% of Georgia counties have no hospital or birthing facility at all, and an estimated 159,000 women live more than 30 minutes from a hospital offering labor and delivery services. Some Georgia counties also show unusually high uninsured rates among women ages 19 to 54. March of Dimes says limited access is linked to delayed prenatal care, more births occurring outside hospitals, higher rates of serious maternal complications, and increased NICU admissions. Georgia's situation mirrors a broader regional trend: nearly 39% of Southern counties qualify as maternity care deserts, among the highest rates nationally. Nationwide, at least 96 labor and delivery units closed between 2024 and early 2026, often leaving communities without any local birthing option and adding an average of 25 minutes to travel times for care. The report notes its county-level data can't capture every local barrier, such as transportation or appointment availability.