NEW ORLEANS — On May 7th at 11:00 AM, advocates from the Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom and Birthmark Doula Collective will join researchers from Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute for a live virtual press conference to discuss a rapidly worsening maternal healthcare crisis. The briefing will detail the findings of “Maternity Care Deserts: A 2026 Report on Louisiana,” which reveals a dangerous collapse in regional health system capacity.
The press conference will feature Anita Raj, lead researcher of the report with Newcomb College, Victoria Coy of the Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and Victoria Williams of Birthmark Doula Collective.
According to the newly released data from the Newcomb Institute, maternal healthcare access is shrinking rapidly across the state:
- Nearly one-third (29.6%) of Louisiana parishes are complete Maternity Care (MC) deserts, meaning they have zero birthing hospitals, birth centers, or obstetric providers.
- Almost half of the state’s parishes (46.8%) are Obstetric Physician Care (OPC) deserts, completely lacking access to obstetric physicians.
- Compared to 2022 data, Louisiana has seen a 17.6% increase in maternity care deserts and a 33.3% increase in low-access areas.
The researchers note that low population density is the strongest predictor of a parish becoming a care desert, meaning rural populations are bearing the brunt of this healthcare collapse. Pregnant people in these regions are forced to travel dangerous distances to receive basic, life-saving care.
However, the crisis extends beyond simple geography. While population density drives where physical clinics are built, severe maternal morbidity is driven by poverty and systemic inequities. Black women continue to face drastically higher rates of maternal mortality , and an estimated 93% of pregnancy-related deaths in Louisiana are preventable. Furthermore, immigrant communities face compounded barriers, as parishes with a higher proportion of non-citizen residents have significantly fewer maternal care and obstetric facilities.
During the press conference, speakers will address the urgent need for state-level interventions to bridge this life-threatening gap. Proposed solutions include expanding the maternal health workforce by empowering and funding midwives and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to practice in rural areas , increasing state funding for telehealth access and direct-distribution community health hubs , and addressing the systemic poverty and racial disparities that continue to make Louisiana a dangerous place to give birth.
PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS:
- What: Virtual Press Conference on the 2026 Louisiana Maternity Care Deserts Report
- When: Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM CDT
- Where: Live on Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84055963063
- Speakers:
- Anita Raj, Lead Researcher, Tulane University’s Newcomb Institute
- Victoria Coy, Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom
- Victoria Williams, Birthmark Doula Collective
To view the full report, visit: bit.ly/DyingToGiveBirth.