Texas' maternal care 'deserts' put pregnant mothers at risk, March of Dimes study says

Factors including Texas' lack of family planning clinics and continued refusal to accept the federal Medicaid expansion have perpetuated maternal care "deserts" that increase health risks for pregnant women, according to a new March of Dimes report. While populous counties such as Bexar provide full access to maternal care, nearly 47% of the state's 254 counties are considered maternal care deserts in the nonprofit's latest analysis. Nearby Atascosa, Bandera and Wilson counties all qualify as deserts because they have no birthing hospitals or other facilities providing obstetric care, the data show.