Empire State Review Contributor 
On July 23, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics released a report revealing that rural counties in the United States experienced consistently higher infant mortality rates from 2021 to 2023 compared to metropolitan areas. The widening rural–urban gap has been linked to limited access to prenatal care, fewer healthcare facilities, and socioeconomic challenges common in rural regions.
The report shows that rural counties face infant mortality rates significantly above the national average—indicating a stark disparity in health outcomes from birth. Experts emphasize that these differences are driven by structural factors such as longer travel distances to maternity services, physician shortages, and higher poverty levels in rural communities. One prominent issue is the prevalence of “maternity care deserts,” areas lacking hospitals with obstetric care, birth centers, OB/GYNs, or certified midwives—factors closely linked to poorer maternal and infant outcomes.
In response, the CDC is recommending targeted interventions aimed at closing this gap. The agency calls for expanded telehealth prenatal visits to reach expectant mothers in remote locations, increased funding and access to lactation consultants, and enhanced community outreach efforts to educate expecting parents on early childhood care. These steps are designed to bring essential maternal health services to underserved rural areas.
Public health advocates describe these strategies as vital. Telehealth platforms, in particular, are seen as transformative tools for rural communities that face long travel times and inconsistent internet access. While broadband limitations pose challenges, the CDC believes virtual prenatal care can significantly improve screening rates, early interventions, and maternal support networks.
Addressing socioeconomic drivers is equally critical. Rural households typically earn less, have higher poverty rates, and face barriers to earning health insurance—factors that exacerbate the inability to access care and follow through with recommended prenatal and postnatal services. These systemic issues have contributed to rural residents having lower life expectancy and higher non-communicable disease rates compared to urban residents.
The CDC’s recommendations also include expanding community-based programs like home-visiting parental support and partnerships with local health clinics to provide maternal education, nutrition guidance, and lactation support. These initiatives are intended to foster ongoing relationships between expectant mothers and healthcare professionals, even when clinical facilities are scarce.
Although the report focuses on county-level data from 2021–2023, it reflects longer-term trends documented in other studies showing that rural infant mortality rates have remained significantly elevated for decades. Experts argue that unless access to maternal care is restructured in rural America, disparities in infant health outcomes will continue to grow.
Looking ahead, the CDC aims to support expanded Medicaid coverage, incentivize healthcare professionals to work in rural zones, and monitor persistent gaps through improved data tracking. These efforts are viewed as necessary to equitably improve early childhood health outcomes across the entire country.
As policymakers and health systems review the report’s findings, rural advocates point out that closing rural–urban health gaps will require sustained investment in infrastructure, workforce development, and community education. The CDC’s action plan urges implementation of these components to protect maternal and infant health in all counties.
