New reporting dives into how the coronavirus is exacerbating challenges in rural maternal health care. Prior to the virus, women in rural areas lacked access to maternal care as hospitals and obstetric units across the country closed. Already traveling long distances to receive care, women may find these rural hospitals overwhelmed by patients. The more the virus spreads into rural communities, the further people will have to travel to receive essential, everyday care. In addition to being far from their communities, women are also isolated from the support of their families due to hospital policies to limit visitors in an effort to prevent virus spread. As stated in the article, “people should get the care they need, no matter who they are or where they live.”
