Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is increasing in the United States. Black women experience the highest rates of SMM and also of preterm births, which are associated with SMM. The racial disparity of SMM across weeks of gestation has not been well-studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in SMM between Black and White birthing people by week of gestation. Findings suggest that black women experience a substantially higher rate of SMM at preterm gestations (22-36 weeks) in addition to higher rates of preterm delivery. Even when accounting for age, medical comorbidities, and social determinants, Black birthing people have a higher odds of SMM throughout pregnancy.
References
Metcalfe A, Wick J, Ronksley P. Racial disparities in comorbidity and severe maternal morbidity/mortality in the United States: an analysis of temporal trends. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. 2018 Jan;97(1):89-96.
Davidson C, Denning S, Thorp K, Tyer-Viola L, Belfort M, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Gandhi M. Examining the effect of quality improvement initiatives on decreasing racial disparities in maternal morbidity. BMJ Quality & Safety. 2022 Sep 1;31(9):670-8.
Jean-Francois B, Bailey Lash T, Dagher RK, Green Parker MC, Han SB, Lewis Johnson T. The potential for health information technology tools to reduce racial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality. Journal of Women's Health. 2021 Feb 1;30(2):274-9.
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