Overview
- Twenty-two of Utah’s 29 counties are designated primary care shortage areas, accounting for over 77% of 2023 births.
- In Kane, Wayne, Emery, Daggett, and Rich counties, the average drive to a birthing hospital exceeds 60 minutes, creating significant logistical and financial barriers.
- The report found 70% of maternal deaths were preventable, with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and obesity as leading contributors and access barriers present in more than one in four cases.
- Utah’s maternal mortality and severe morbidity rates are lower than national averages, yet outcomes are worse for racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and older birthing parents.
- Poor mental health among women of reproductive age rose 18.7 percentage points over a decade, and only 55% with anxiety or depression symptoms reported asking a provider for help.