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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 289 Research Studies DisplayedZhong J, Simpson KR, Spetz J
Linking patient safety climate with missed nursing care in labor and delivery units: findings from the LaborRNs Survey.
The objective of this study was to explore the association of nurses' perceptions of patient safety climate with missed nursing care in labor and delivery (L&D) units. Nurse respondents were recruited via email distribution of an electronic survey; hospitals with L&D units were recruited from states with projected availability of 2018 state inpatient data. Measures included the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire Safety Climate Subscale and the Perinatal Missed Care Survey. The results suggested that improving safety climate through means such as better teamwork and communication may improve nursing care quality during labor and birth through decreasing missed nursing care. Strategies to reduce missed care may also conversely improve the safety climate.
AHRQ-funded; HS025715.
Citation: Zhong J, Simpson KR, Spetz J .
Linking patient safety climate with missed nursing care in labor and delivery units: findings from the LaborRNs Survey.
J Patient Saf 2023 Apr 1;19(3):166-72. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001106.
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery, Nursing, Patient Safety, Provider: Nurse
Kozhimannil KB, Lewis VA, Interrante JD
Screening for and experiences of intimate partner violence in the United States before, during, and after pregnancy, 2016-2019.
The objective of this study was to measure rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) screening during the perinatal period among people experiencing physical violence in the US. Data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System was used to describe the incidence of physical IPV before or during pregnancy. The results indicated that nearly half of those reporting physical IPV were not screened before or after pregnancy. The authors concluded that public health efforts to improve maternal health must address universal screening for IPV as well as access to care.
AHRQ-funded; HS027640.
Citation: Kozhimannil KB, Lewis VA, Interrante JD .
Screening for and experiences of intimate partner violence in the United States before, during, and after pregnancy, 2016-2019.
Am J Public Health 2023 Mar; 113(3):297-305. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2022.307195..
Keywords: Screening, Domestic Violence, Pregnancy, Women, Maternal Care
Konnyu KJ, Danilack VA, Adam GP
Changes to prenatal care visit frequency and telehealth: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.
This study systematically reviewed patient, partner or family, and clinician perspectives, preferences, and experiences related to prenatal care visit schedules and televisits for routine prenatal care. This review is a subset of a larger review on both the qualitative experiences and quantitative benefits and harms of reduced prenatal care visit schedules and televisits for routine prenatal care that was produced by the Brown Evidence-based Practice Center for AHRQ. The authors synthesized barriers and facilitators to the implementation of reduced care visits or of televisits into 1 of 14 domains defined by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and a Best Fit Framework approach and summarized themes within TDF domains. They assessed their confidence in the summary statements using the GRADE-CERQual (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) tool. They found four studies that addressed the number of scheduled routine prenatal visits, and five studies that addressed televisits. These studies found that health care professionals believed fewer routine visits may be more convenient for patients and may increase clinic capacity to provide additional care for patients with high-risk pregnancies. But both patients and clinicians had concerns about potential lesser care with fewer visits, including concerns about quality of care and challenges with implementing new delivery-of-care models.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500002I.
Citation: Konnyu KJ, Danilack VA, Adam GP .
Changes to prenatal care visit frequency and telehealth: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.
Obstet Gynecol 2023 Feb;141(2):299-323. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005046.
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Mehra R, Alspaugh A, Dunn JT
"'Oh gosh, why go?' Cause they are going to look at me and not hire": intersectional experiences of Black women navigating employment during pregnancy and parenting.
This study was an analysis of the lived experience of pregnancy among Black pregnant women in New Haven, Connecticut. Twenty-four women participated in semi-structured interviews from January 2017 through August 2018. Interview transcripts were analyzed to describe common experiences. The following three themes were identified: 1) Difficulty seeking employment during pregnant; 2) Experiences on the job and navigating leave and accommodations while pregnant and parenting; and 3) The stressors of experiencing pregnancy discrimination and bias, which influenced financial burden and stress.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Mehra R, Alspaugh A, Dunn JT .
"'Oh gosh, why go?' Cause they are going to look at me and not hire": intersectional experiences of Black women navigating employment during pregnancy and parenting.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023 Jan 10; 23(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05268-9..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Blebu BE, Kuppermann M, Coleman-Phox K
A qualitative exploration of experiences accessing community and social services among pregnant low-income people of color during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to heightened social and economic stressors for expectant individuals. Although community and social services exist to alleviate stressors during pregnancy (e.g., food insecurity and financial difficulties) and decrease the likelihood of negative maternal outcomes, it remains uncertain how the pandemic influenced access to these resources, especially among low-income communities of color. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of low-income pregnant individuals of color in accessing community and social service resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study on COVID-related factors recruited participants from two sources—a prospective comparative effectiveness study comparing two enhanced prenatal care models and the California Black Infant Health Program between August and November 2020. The researchers conducted 62 interviews with Medicaid-eligible participants in California's Central Valley, asking them to describe their pregnancy-related experiences and the perceived impact of the pandemic on these experiences. The study identified two overarching themes: obstacles in accessing community and social service resources during the pandemic and potential avenues for enhancing access to these resources. Sub-themes regarding challenges encountered encompassed issues with remote access, complex registration procedures for community and social services, and concerns specific to COVID-19 resources (e.g., testing). Sub-themes associated with opportunities for improved access included capitalizing on instrumental support from perinatal staff and informational (e.g., practical) support from other community programs and pregnant peers. Participants suggested improved client experiences could be achieved through increased transparency and enhanced patient-provider communication.
AHRQ-funded; HS026407
Citation: Blebu BE, Kuppermann M, Coleman-Phox K .
A qualitative exploration of experiences accessing community and social services among pregnant low-income people of color during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Womens Health 2023 Jan-Dec;19:17455057231156792. doi: 10.1177/17455057231156792.
Keywords: COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Low-Income, Women, Pregnancy, Public Health
Egan KA, Lo BK, Haneuse S
Associations of maternal consumption of sugary beverages in pregnancy with infant weight status.
Researchers studied mother-infant dyads from a prospective cohort study in order to examine links between maternal consumption of 100% juice and sugar-sweetened beverages in the third trimester of pregnancy with infant weight status at 6 and 12 months. 100% juice consumption was found to be associated with higher infant weight-for-length at 6 months and higher odds of rapid infant weight gain from birth to 6 months and birth to 12 months. 100% juice consumption was not associated with weight-for-length at 12 months and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was not associated with any of the outcome measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS022242.
Citation: Egan KA, Lo BK, Haneuse S .
Associations of maternal consumption of sugary beverages in pregnancy with infant weight status.
Acad Pediatr 2023 Jan-Feb; 23(1):109-16. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2022.05.007..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Nutrition, Newborns/Infants, Maternal Care, Women
Fareed N, Swoboda C, Singh P
Developing and testing an integrated patient mHealth and provider dashboard application system for type 2 diabetes management among Medicaid-enrolled pregnant individuals based on a user-centered approach: mixed-methods study.
The objective of this study was to develop user specifications for a tailored and integrated technology, patient application (mHealth) and provider dashboard, that provides a complete view of Medicaid-enrolled patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) during pregnancy and to develop prototypes based on users’ needs. Participating patients and providers stated a core set of expectations for the mHealth and dashboard applications. Participants then provided feedback to improve these applications. The authors concluded that digital health tools could transform health care among Medicaid-enrolled patients with T2D during pregnancy, with the goal of managing their blood glucose levels. Refining the stated needs and preferences of patients and providers to develop applications holds potential for tackling complicated health care issues.
AHRQ-funded; HS028822.
Citation: Fareed N, Swoboda C, Singh P .
Developing and testing an integrated patient mHealth and provider dashboard application system for type 2 diabetes management among Medicaid-enrolled pregnant individuals based on a user-centered approach: mixed-methods study.
Digit Health 2023 Jan-Dec; 9:20552076221144181. doi: 10.1177/20552076221144181..
Keywords: Patient-Centered Healthcare, Telehealth, Diabetes, Pregnancy, Chronic Conditions, Women, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Tabb KM, Dalton VK, Tilea A
Trends in antenatal depression and suicidal ideation diagnoses among commercially insured childbearing individuals in the United States, 2008-2018.
This study examined trends in antenatal depression and suicidal ideation among commercially insured childbearing individuals from 2008 to 2018. The study included 536,647 individuals aged 15-44 continuously enrolled in a single commercial health insurance plan for one year before childbirth from 2008 to 2018. Primary outcomes included depression or suicidal ideation based on relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes during pregnancy. Rates of depression increased by 39% from 540 per 10,000 individuals in 2008 to 750 per 10,000 individuals in 2018. Suicidal ideation increased by 100% from 15 per 10,000 individuals in 2008 to 44 per 10,000 individuals in 2018. Black persons experienced the sharpest proportional increases.
AHRQ-funded; HS027640.
Citation: Tabb KM, Dalton VK, Tilea A .
Trends in antenatal depression and suicidal ideation diagnoses among commercially insured childbearing individuals in the United States, 2008-2018.
J Affect Disord 2023 Jan 1;320:263-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.120..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Depression, Behavioral Health, Women, Health Insurance
Eliason EL, Daw JR
Presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid and timely prenatal care access.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the adoption of presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid in Kansas in 2016 and timely prenatal care access. The researchers utilized 2012-2019 National Center for Health Statistics natality files of all live births in adults aged 20 or older in Kansas, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, with outcomes of first-trimester prenatal care, the month of first prenatal visit, and adequate prenatal care. The study found no evidence that presumptive eligibility in Kansas resulted in changes in prenatal care use. Among individuals with high school education or less, presumptive eligibility was associated with an increase in first-trimester prenatal care, driven by earlier month of first prenatal care visit. The researchers concluded that in individuals with lower education, presumptive eligibility in Medicaid non-expansion states may lead to small improvements in early prenatal care.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Eliason EL, Daw JR .
Presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid and timely prenatal care access.
Health Serv Res 2022 Dec;57(6):1288-94. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14035..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Access to Care, Medicaid, Women
Pineles BL, Harris AD, Goodman KE
Adverse maternal and delivery outcomes in children and very young (age ≤13 years) US adolescents compared with older adolescents and adults.
This study compared adverse maternal and delivery outcomes of pregnant 10- to 13-year-olds vs 14- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 19-year-olds. This cross-sectional study looked at all patients aged 10 to 19 years who delivered at hospitals in the Premier Healthcare Database from January 2019 through May 2021. The study included 90,876 deliveries across 655 US hospitals. Controlling for patient race and ethnicity, insurance type, and obesity status: 10- to 13-year-olds had significantly higher risks of preterm delivery and cesarean delivery compared with 14- to 17-year-olds. The risk of preeclampsia was not higher for 10- to 13-year-olds compared to 14- to 17-year-olds. There was a higher risk of preterm delivery for 10- to 13-year-olds compared to 18- to 19-year-olds, but not significantly different for cesarean delivery and preeclampsia.
AHRQ-funded; HS028363.
Citation: Pineles BL, Harris AD, Goodman KE .
Adverse maternal and delivery outcomes in children and very young (age ≤13 years) US adolescents compared with older adolescents and adults.
JAMA 2022 Nov 1;328(17):1766-68. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.18340..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery, Women, Outcomes, Adverse Events, Maternal Care
Interrante JD, Tuttle MS, Admon LK
Severe maternal morbidity and mortality risk at the intersection of rurality, race and ethnicity, and Medicaid.
Using maternal discharge records from childbirth hospitalizations in the HCUP National Inpatient Sample, 2007-15, researchers examined differences in rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality by rural or urban geography, race and ethnicity, and clinical factors among Medicaid-funded births and privately insured hospital births. The highest rate of severe maternal morbidity and mortality occurred among rural Indigenous Medicaid-funded births; births among Black rural and urban residents and among Hispanic urban residents also experienced elevated rates. The researchers concluded that heightened rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality among Medicaid-funded births indicate an opportunity for state and federal policy responses to address the maternal health challenges faced by Medicaid beneficiaries, including Black, Indigenous, and rural residents
AHRQ-funded; HS027640.
Citation: Interrante JD, Tuttle MS, Admon LK .
Severe maternal morbidity and mortality risk at the intersection of rurality, race and ethnicity, and Medicaid.
Womens Health Issues 2022 Nov-Dec;32(6):540-49. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.05.003..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maternal Care, Women, Pregnancy, Mortality, Risk, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicaid
Wesemann DG, Wilson AC, Riley AR
Parental cannabis use, negative parenting, and behavior problems of young children.
This cross-sectional survey of parents of young children aged 1.5-5 years examined whether cannabis use is associated with increased risk for negative parenting and child emotional and behavioral problems. The parents reported on family demographics, last 6-months cannabis use, negative parenting, parent mental health, parents' adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and child emotional/behavioral problems. Of 266 responding parents from five primary care practices in three states, 34 (13%) reported cannabis use in the last 6 months. Those parents who endorsed cannabis use reported significantly more negative parenting, ACEs, anxiety, depression, and child emotional/behavioral problems. However, parental cannabis use did not predict child emotional/behavioral problems when other risk factors were considered. The authors call for further research.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Wesemann DG, Wilson AC, Riley AR .
Parental cannabis use, negative parenting, and behavior problems of young children.
Subst Use Misuse 2022;57(13):2015-19. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2130001..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Behavioral Health, Pregnancy
Snyder BM, Patterson MF, Gebretsadik T
Association between asthma status and prenatal antibiotic prescription fills among women in a Medicaid population.
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal asthma and outpatient prenatal antibiotic prescription fills to inform antibiotic stewardship. With data from the Tennessee Medicaid Program, findings showed that women with asthma had an increased risk of filling at least one prenatal antibiotic prescription and had an increased number of fills during pregnancy compared to women without asthma. These findings highlight that pregnant women with asthma disproportionately fill more antibiotic prescriptions during pregnancy.
AHRQ-funded; HS018454.
Citation: Snyder BM, Patterson MF, Gebretsadik T .
Association between asthma status and prenatal antibiotic prescription fills among women in a Medicaid population.
J Asthma 2022 Oct;59(10):2100-07. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1993247..
Keywords: Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Pregnancy, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medication, Maternal Care, Women, Chronic Conditions
Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion with postpartum contraception use and pregnancy. The researchers found that Medicaid expansion was associated with a 7.0 percentage point increase in postpartum use of the contraceptive implant and intrauterine device LARC, a 3.1 percentage point decrease in short-acting contraception, and a 3.9 percentage point decrease in non-prescription contraceptive use overall. Increases in LARC use were concentrated among non-Hispanic, White, and Black respondents. Medicaid expansion was associated with a decrease in early postpartum pregnancy only among non-Hispanic Black respondents. The researchers concluded that the ACA Medicaid expansion improved postpartum contraceptive access and led to shifts from methods with a lower upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance towards methods with the higher upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance. These changes suggest that Medicaid expansions increased access to the full range of contraceptive methods.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464; HS000011
Citation: Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW .
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
Contraception 2022 Sep;113:42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.02.012..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Women, Medicaid, Access to Care, Policy
Thompson I, Bryant AG, Stuebe AM
Centering the patient in postpartum contraceptive counseling.
This article discusses the timing of postpartum contraceptive counseling and the fact that many health care providers believe prevention of future pregnancies is a priority in the postpartum period and that the inpatient postpartum stay is an ideal time to discuss contraception. However, this belief is not necessarily shared by the birthing parent, and they might be unready to discuss contraceptives, especially for people whose reproduction has been marginalized. The authors state that health care providers must acknowledge this harmful and racist history to change counseling practices actively and thoughtfully to best meet patient needs while simultaneously respecting patient autonomy.
AHRQ-funded; HS027260.
Citation: Thompson I, Bryant AG, Stuebe AM .
Centering the patient in postpartum contraceptive counseling.
Clin Obstet Gynecol 2022 Sep 1;65(3):588-93. doi: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000725..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Sexual Health
Horner-Johnson W, Garg B, Darney BG BG
Severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal complications among women with physical, sensory, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The authors assessed differences in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and other perinatal complications by presence and type of disability in a retrospective cohort study of California births from 2000-2012. They found that SMM and other perinatal complications were more common among women with disabilities than among women without disabilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Garg B, Darney BG BG .
Severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal complications among women with physical, sensory, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2022 Sep;36(5):759-68. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12873..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Disabilities, Adverse Events, Pregnancy, Women
Hirai AH, Owens PL, Reid LD
AHRQ Author: Owens PL, Reid LD
Associations between state-level severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal indicators.
This study used the HCUP State Inpatient Databases (HCUP-SID) to determine the correlation between state-level severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates and perinatal indicators. HCUP-SID was analyzed from 2017 to 2019 using revised code sets for 20 indicators excluding blood transfusions. Perinatal indicators used included prepregnancy hypertension, prepregnancy diabetes, prepregnancy obesity, low-risk cesarean delivery, preterm birth, infant mortality, and maternal mortality. HCUP-SID data for 10,542,942 maternal deliveries and 11,394,752 live births from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) were aggregated for state-level analysis. SMM rates were significantly correlated with 2 of the 7 perinatal indicators: prepregnancy hypertension and low-risk cesarean deliveries. All other perinatal indicators were significantly associated with at least 4 of 7 other indicators, and most correlations were higher in magnitude. Maternity mortality rates were highest in the southeast.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hirai AH, Owens PL, Reid LD .
Associations between state-level severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal indicators.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2224621. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24621..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Labor and Delivery, Hospitalization
Smith AJB, Zhou RA, Sites E
Childbirths at home and in birthing centers rose during COVID-19: Oregon 2020 vs prior years.
This study’s objectives were to compare place of birth between 2020 and years before the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate whether changes in place of birth differed between system-owned and independent hospitals and urban and rural regions in Oregon. Findings showed that, in Oregon, in-hospital births declined significantly during the first year of COVID-19 and affected system-owned hospitals more than independent ones. Further, shifts toward out-of-hospital births occurred in both urban and rural areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Smith AJB, Zhou RA, Sites E .
Childbirths at home and in birthing centers rose during COVID-19: Oregon 2020 vs prior years.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022 Jul;227(1):108-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.03.027..
Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Women, COVID-19
Ellison J, Wang C, Yarrington C
Insurance and geographic variations in non-invasive prenatal testing.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the population-level rate of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) uptake in Massachusetts and identify disparities based on patient zip-code and insurance type. The researchers identified pregnant patients aged 35 years or older at their delivery between 7/1/2015 to 12/31/2015 who were eligible for NIPT use, to assess the role of area‐level sociodemographic characteristics and NIPT uptake. The study reported that considerable geographic variation was discovered. Patients living in zip‐codes within and surrounding the Boston metropolitan area were more likely to receive NIPT, as were those living in Eastern MA. The observed NIPT rate (per 1000 pregnant individuals aged 35 and over) was 48.7 for Medicaid enrollees and 272.1 for commercial enrollees; 123.0 and 223.2 for patients living in a zip‐code with a high versus low proportion of Black/Hispanic residents; and 107.7 and 218.4 for those in a zip‐code with a high versus low proportion of low‐income residents. The researchers reported that birthing people covered by Medicaid were over five times less likely to receive NIPT than their counterparts with commercial coverage. Lower NIPT rates in zip‐codes with a high proportion of low‐income or Black/Hispanic residents also suggests that geographic variations in uptake may reflect racial/ethnic and income disparities independent of insurance coverage. The researchers concluded that the study findings emphasize the presence of substantial disparities in NIPT uptake based on insurance and zip-code of residence, and that further research is needed to identify barriers and facilitators to uptake and to evaluate interventions to address inequities in NIPT use.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Ellison J, Wang C, Yarrington C .
Insurance and geographic variations in non-invasive prenatal testing.
Prenat Diagn 2022 Jul;42(8):1004-07. doi: 10.1002/pd.6155..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Women, Health Insurance, Screening
Saldanha IJ, Cao W, Bhuma MR
Systematic reviews can guide clinical practice and new research on primary headaches in pregnancy: an editorial on the 2022 American Headache Society Members' Choice Award paper.
This article describes the systematic review paper that was done on management of primary headaches during pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding, which won the 2021 American Headache Society’s Member’s Choice Award. The findings are summarized in this paper, which discusses different pharmacologic interventions and their possible effects on the fetus/child and mother. Evidence was summarized for prevention and treatment of primary headache. The authors did not find a lot of evidence for harms or benefits but called for more studies to be done.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500002I.
Citation: Saldanha IJ, Cao W, Bhuma MR .
Systematic reviews can guide clinical practice and new research on primary headaches in pregnancy: an editorial on the 2022 American Headache Society Members' Choice Award paper.
Headache 2022 Jul;62(7):774-76. doi: 10.1111/head.14332..
Keywords: Neurological Disorders, Pregnancy, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Admon LK, Ford ND, Ko JY
Trends and distribution of in-hospital mortality among pregnant and postpartum individuals by pregnancy period.
The purpose of this study was to examine long-term trends in inpatient death rates among pregnant and postpartum individuals and proportion of deaths by pregnancy period (antenatal, delivery, and postpartum). The researchers examined patterns of inpatient mortality during pregnancy-associated hospitalizations utilizing data from the National Inpatient Sample for 1994 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019. The study found that between 1994 and 2015, among 84,181,338 hospitalizations an estimated 12,654 inpatient deaths occurred among pregnant and postpartum individuals with a mean age of 29.37. Inpatient deaths during delivery hospitalizations decreased from 10.6 deaths per 100 000 delivery hospitalizations to 4.7 deaths per 100 000 delivery hospitalizations between 1994 to 1995 and 2014 to 2015. The rate of inpatient deaths in antenatal and postpartum periods remained unchanged between 1994 to 1995 and 2014 to 2015. The researchers concluded that resources directed toward improving quality of care at obstetric delivery have been associated with decreased rates of severe morbidity and may be associated with decreased mortality, but additional efforts need to be directed toward antenatal and postpartum hospitalizations.
AHRQ-funded; HS027640.
Citation: Admon LK, Ford ND, Ko JY .
Trends and distribution of in-hospital mortality among pregnant and postpartum individuals by pregnancy period.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2224614. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24614..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maternal Care, Mortality, Pregnancy, Women, Hospitals
Hirai AH, Owens PL, Reid LD
AHRQ Author: Owens PL, Reid LD
Trends in severe maternal morbidity in the US across the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS from 2012-2019.
This study evaluated national and state trends in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates from 2012 to 2019, and potential disruptions associated with the transition to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification and Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS) in October 2015. This repeated cross-sectional analysis examined delivery hospitalizations in the HCUP’s National Inpatient Sample and State Inpatient Databases. There were almost 6 million delivery hospitalizations in the national sample representing a weighted total of 29.8 million deliveries with a mean maternal age of 28.6 years. SMM rates increased from 69.5 per 10,000 deliveries to 79.7 per 10,000 in 2019 without a significant change across the ICD-10-CM/PCS transition. OF 20 SMM indicators, rates for 10 indicators increased while 3 significantly decreased with 5 of those changes associated with the ICD-10-CM/PCS transition. Acute kidney failure had the largest increase, from 6.4 to 15.3 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations, with no change associated with ICD transition. Disseminated intravascular coagulation had the largest decrease from 31.3 to 21.2 per 10,000, with a significant drop associated with ICD transition. State SMM rates significantly decreased for 1 state and significantly increased for 21 states from 2012 to 2019 and with varying associations with ICD transition.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hirai AH, Owens PL, Reid LD .
Trends in severe maternal morbidity in the US across the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS from 2012-2019.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2222966. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.22966..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Labor and Delivery, Hospitalization
Jaynes S, Brathwaite D, Tully KP
Systematic review of the effect of technology-mediated education intervention on maternal outcomes in the first year after birth.
This systematic literature review synthesized the findings on the effect of technology-mediated education intervention in the first year after birth on maternal health outcomes and to evaluate interventions for participant perspectives and health equity. The literature search found articles published between 2010 and 2020. The authors identified 21 articles that met their inclusion criteria. Videos were the most commonly reported education intervention, followed by text messages, phone calls, and websites. Maternal health topics addressed in the included articles were mental health, weight loss, breastfeeding, general postpartum education, perineal care, and substance use. These technology-mediated interventions were shown to positively affect mental health, weight loss, and breastfeeding outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS027260.
Citation: Jaynes S, Brathwaite D, Tully KP .
Systematic review of the effect of technology-mediated education intervention on maternal outcomes in the first year after birth.
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2022 May;51(3):278-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2022.02.005..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Women, Maternal Care, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Hunte R, Klawetter S, Paul S
"Black nurses in the home is working": advocacy, naming, and processing racism to improve Black maternal and infant health.
The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how Black women’s health, pregnancy and parenting are impacted by racism, and how the relationship between Black women’s health, pregnancy and parenting and racism-related stress are affected by a culturally-specific perinatal care program. The researchers conducted focus groups and utilized a Black Feminist approach to center the perspectives and lived experiences of Black women. Four themes surfaced in the analysis, including: 1) The widespread reach of structural racism, 2) Trust and healing facilitated through shared identities, 3) Racism directly impacts mental health, and 4) Advocacy at all levels is a vital service. The researchers concluded that structural racism has chronic and toxic effects on Black women’s physical and mental health, and Black perinatal care should include: culturally-specific approaches, advocacy, mental health support with specific attention to racism-related stress, and examination of implicit biases.
AHRQ-funded; HS026370.
Citation: Hunte R, Klawetter S, Paul S .
"Black nurses in the home is working": advocacy, naming, and processing racism to improve Black maternal and infant health.
Matern Child Health J 2022 Apr;26(4):933-40. doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03283-4..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women, Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Newborns/Infants, Cultural Competence
Eliason EL, Daw JR, Steenland MW
Changes in postpartum insurance coverage in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of this study was to examine changes in postpartum insurance loss or changes (churn) in Medicaid-insured pregnant people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers utilized the 2019 to 2021 Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement
(CPS-ASEC), with an annual sample size of approximately 98,000 households. The study covered 3 time periods: prepandemic (2019), early pandemic (2020), and pandemic (2021), and included female respondents aged 18 to 44 years who were living with a child
younger than 1 year at the time. Coverage was assigned to one of three categories: private, Medicaid, or uninsured. Churn was defined as loss of insurance or changes in insurance type between current insurance and insurance in the previous year. The study found that in 2019 (before the pandemic), among postpartum respondents with Medicaid during the last year, 88.2% had consistent Medicaid, 10.3% lost coverage, and 1.6%switched to private coverage. In 2021 (during the pandemic), consistent Medicaid increased by 6.8 percentage points and Medicaid-uninsured churn decreased by 6.6 percentage points representing a 64% decline from 2019. The researchers concluded that postpartum insurance loss decreased during the pandemic, primarily associated with large increases in consistent Medicaid coverage, and that these findings suggest that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which prevented Medicaid disenrollment, was associated with substantial reductions in postpartum Medicaid loss.
(CPS-ASEC), with an annual sample size of approximately 98,000 households. The study covered 3 time periods: prepandemic (2019), early pandemic (2020), and pandemic (2021), and included female respondents aged 18 to 44 years who were living with a child
younger than 1 year at the time. Coverage was assigned to one of three categories: private, Medicaid, or uninsured. Churn was defined as loss of insurance or changes in insurance type between current insurance and insurance in the previous year. The study found that in 2019 (before the pandemic), among postpartum respondents with Medicaid during the last year, 88.2% had consistent Medicaid, 10.3% lost coverage, and 1.6%switched to private coverage. In 2021 (during the pandemic), consistent Medicaid increased by 6.8 percentage points and Medicaid-uninsured churn decreased by 6.6 percentage points representing a 64% decline from 2019. The researchers concluded that postpartum insurance loss decreased during the pandemic, primarily associated with large increases in consistent Medicaid coverage, and that these findings suggest that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which prevented Medicaid disenrollment, was associated with substantial reductions in postpartum Medicaid loss.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011; HS027464.
Citation: Eliason EL, Daw JR, Steenland MW .
Changes in postpartum insurance coverage in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JAMA Health Forum 2022 Apr;3(4):e220688. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.0688..
Keywords: COVID-19, Health Insurance, Maternal Care, Women, Pregnancy