Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Potentially Avoidable Delivery Complications Among Pregnant Medicaid Beneficiaries in South Carolina

Date
2006
Journal
Maternal and Child Health Journal
Description

Examined access to healthcare during pregnancy for mothers insured by Medicaid as well as the risks of potentially avoidable maternity complications among rural and urban hospital deliveries for groups of mothers defined by race or ethnicity. Within groups defined by race or ethnicity, unadjusted rates for potentially avoidable maternity complications did not differ significantly by hospital location. Holding other factors constant, potentially avoidable maternity complications were less common in rural hospitals than in urban hospitals. In rural hospitals, African Americans had notably higher risk for potentially avoidable maternity complications than did non-Hispanic whites. The authors conclude that providers and policymakers should work to reduce the risks of potentially avoidable maternity complications for African American women in rural areas who are insured by Medicaid.

Center
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Authors
Sarah Laditka, James Laditka, Janice Probst