by Savannah Erdman,University of Minnesota

Credit: Vidal Balielo Jr. from Pexels

For many newborn infants, access to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can mean the difference between life and death. The specialized staff and equipment available at NICUs are essential for infants with complex medical needs, but a new study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health shows that many people in rural America live far from hospitals equipped with these potentially life-saving facilities.

To conduct the study, researchers analyzed data from a 2021 survey of 89 rural hospitals with childbirth services in the U.S. The survey asked hospital administrators and maternity unit managers to report the distance to their nearest NICU. The researchers also analyzed additional hospital- and county-level data to assess how the conditions of a local community and the amount of resources in the community related to NICU proximity.

The study,publishedin theJournal of Perinatology, found:

Distance to the nearest neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) among rural hospitals with childbirth services in 2021 (n = 89). Credit:Journal of Perinatology(2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41372-025-02518-4

"As rural communities facerising infant mortalityand declining access to obstetric services, understanding how far families must travel for advanced newborn care has never been more important," said Emily Sheffield, lead author and a researcher at the School of Public Health's Rural Health Research Center. "Infants born in communities with fewer resources not only face greater risks, but are often the farthest from the life-saving neonatal care they may urgently need."

Future research should examine how distance to NICU care affects infant outcomes and explore effective models for supporting rural hospitals and emergency transport systems in regions located far from NICUs.

More information Emily C. Sheffield et al, Local availability of neonatal intensive care at rural hospitals with childbirth services, Journal of Perinatology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41372-025-02518-4 Journal information: Journal of Perinatology