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Maternal and infant health outcomes were assessed using data from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) from the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) and inpatient hospitalization records for North Carolina. Outcomes of interest included cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity (SMM20 and SMM21), and hypertension, which were examined across rural\u2010urban disparities based on RUCA codes. Statistical analyses were conducted to link travel metrics with health outcomes, adjusting for age, race, and insurance status to control for potential confounding factors.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The study found that rural and low\u2010income areas in North Carolina had fewer health care providers. Increased travel times and distances to clinical care were associated with higher cesarean delivery rates, increased severe maternal morbidity, preterm birth, and higher rates of gestational diabetes. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for age, race, and insurance status.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Women living in maternal care deserts in North Carolina, often in rural locations, are more likely to experience adverse health outcomes, including severe maternal morbidity and hypertension, likely due to limited access to essential obstetric and gynecological care. These findings highlight the negative impact of health care inaccessibility on maternal and infant health in underserved regions.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/jrh.70020","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,8]],"date-time":"2025-04-08T13:35:04Z","timestamp":1744119304000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Mapping maternity care deserts: Driving distance and health outcomes in North Carolina"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"41","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0315-4860","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Margaret","family":"Sugg","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geography and Planning Appalachian State University  Boone North Carolina USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shishir","family":"Shakya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Economics Appalachian State University  Boone North Carolina USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah","family":"Ulrich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geography and Planning Appalachian State University  Boone North Carolina USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9529-0124","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer Schroeder","family":"Tyson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health Appalachian State University  Boone North Carolina USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4611-1745","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer","family":"Runkle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies North Carolina State University  Raleigh North Carolina USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15620\/cdc:124678"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamahealthforum.2022.5541"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","unstructured":"StoneburnerA LucasR FontenotJ DeMariaA.Nowhere to go: maternal and infant health outcomes in maternity care deserts. 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