Columbia, South Carolina (WOLO) – A new map shows the maternity care desert in a rural South Carolina county. T.The Maternity Care Services Map was created by Taylor Olson, an alumnus at the University of South Carolina. The map also shows state clinics, hospitals, and licensed midwives for mothers in need.
In parts of South Carolina, expectant mothers may have to travel long distances to deliver a healthy baby, says Kathryn Luchok, Ph.D., a female and gender studies instructor at USC. Antenatal care is vital to the baby’s health, and postnatal care is essential to the mother’s recovery and life.
“Think of Richland County, which has several hospitals nearby, and if you live in a county far from Lexington or downtown Columbia, it might take you 30 minutes to get to the hospital. Please,” Luchok says.
map Highlights rural counties in states with few, if any, birth-related medical services. An expectant mother may travel from 30 minutes to 1 hour for health care in rural areas.
“If you live in a rural area and there is not much public transportation, it is very difficult or almost impossible for some people to get to your appointment, which means they have transportation problems,” Luchok said. increase.
Luchok also said many of these areas have high infant or maternal mortality rates.Democratic Party Senator John Scott of South Carolina said lawmakers are working with hospitals and Congress to build an all-women’s hospital in a central location to provide more accessible support to mothers. increase.
“As I predicted four to five years ago, apart from initiatives outside of women’s health centers, large providers will need to create satellite health centers, satellite health centers,” said Senator Scott. say.
