A recent study by the Rural and Minority Health Research Center reveals a complex landscape of telehealth adoption in prenatal care across the United States. Researchers analyzed electronic health records of nearly 350,000 pregnancies from 2018 to 2022, uncovering both progress and persistent disparities in telehealth usage.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that hybrid prenatal care—combining telehealth and in-person visits—increased from virtually non-existent levels in 2018 to a peak of 8.1 percent in 2020, before settling at 6.2 percent in 2022. This surge was particularly notable among Black and Hispanic individuals, who showed higher adoption rates compared to their white counterparts.
However, the research also highlighted a continuing rural-urban divide. Urban residents were almost twice as likely to utilize hybrid prenatal care compared to their rural peers. This gap persists despite the push for alternative healthcare methods during the COVID-19 pandemic and the endorsement of telehealth by federal agencies and professional associations for certain aspects of prenatal care.
Dr. Peiyin Hung, lead author and co-director of the center, emphasized the critical nature of prenatal care for the nearly four million individuals giving birth annually in the U.S. “Barriers to accessing this care can adversely impact maternal and neonatal health,” Hung stated.
The study builds on previous research that identified dual barriers to maternity care in socially disadvantaged communities: travel burden and digital access. While telehealth offers potential solutions, particularly for rural patients needing specialist care, the limited overall uptake suggests that its full potential remains unrealized.
Researchers stress the urgent need for strategies to improve equitable access to telehealth, especially in rural communities. As prenatal care continues to evolve, addressing these disparities will be crucial in optimizing health outcomes across diverse populations.
See: “Minority groups increase use of telehealth, but rural-urban gaps persist, and overall rates remain low” (December 11, 2024)
