Maternal Care Access
Access to maternal care is an essential component of maternal health outcomes. Although everyone should have access to quality, person-centered, respectful care, there are often challenges that prevent access to care, including financial, geographic, social, and community barriers.
Why Maternal Care Access Matters in Nebraska
51.6% of Nebraska counties are classified as maternity care deserts, compared with 32.6% in the U.S
Maternity care deserts lack obstetric providers and hospitals or birth centers for obstetric care.
15.9% of women have no hospital within 30 minutes of their home, compared to 9.7% in the U.S.
About 1 in 7 infants was born to a woman who received inadequate prenatal care in 2024.
Inadequate prenatal care begins in 5th of pregnancy or later or less than 50% of the appropriate number of visits for an infant's gestational age.
Improving access to quality and respectful maternal care has been shown to improve:
Early prenatal care
Reduce stress
Better maternal and infant health outcomes
Innovations
Maternal Mobile Health Unit (MMHU)
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IBBG is developing MMHU in partnership with community members and key stakeholders across Nebraska, to increase access to prenatal, postpartum, and maternal support services for women across Nebraska by deploying mobile health units that meet communities where they are. Despite mobile health being a proven model in the U.S., only 2% of these programs provide maternal health services nationally.
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Research conducted by the March of Dimes shows that maternal mobile health units improve maternal health outcomes by addressing access to medical care and trust, closing access gaps, and supporting healthier pregnancies and births.
Mindful Mamas Circle
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IBBG is launching the Mindful Mamas Circle Initiative in Fall 2026, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine, Charles Drew Health Center, Doulas, and community members. Rooted in the centering model, this initiative will provide perinatal mental health support for mothers and families in Nebraska.
Perinatal mental health refers to emotional and psychological well-being during the perinatal period (pregnancy and the postpartum period). While short-term mood changes are common after birth, some individuals experience clinically significant mental health conditions that require professional evaluation and treatment. These conditions are common, treatable, and deserving of timely, respectful care.
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Mental illness is the leading underlying cause of maternal deaths during the perinatal period in the United States, despite being preventable with the diagnosis and treatment .
Perinatal mental health conditions have far-reaching detrimental effects on childhood development, pediatric mental health, and general family well-being.
Black women suffer from postpartum depression at twice the rate of White women.
Black women are 41% less likely to start treatment for postpartum depression.
Black women have higher rates of suicidal ideation
Nearly 60% of Black women do not receive any support for perinatal mental health.
If you are currently experiencing concerns about your mental health, call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or 988 Lifeline.