Lost Opportunities in Addressing Maternal Health Disparities: An examination of antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum correlates

Investigator: Natalie D. Hernandez, PhD., MPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine 

Goal: The overarching goal of the research is to elucidate and estimate prevalence rates of maternal morbidities by pregnancy outcome and selected covariates during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods in a defined population of pregnant women.

Specific Aims: 

• Aim 1: To determine the prevalence of the five most common morbidities among women who had live births, by race and ethnicity
• Aim 2: To determine the prevalence of the five most common morbidities among women who had live births, by rural versus urban
• Aim 3: To assess correlates of postpartum attendance among women racial/ethnic minority women

Outcomes: 

• Aim 1: Black women have a significantly higher prevalence of a maternal morbidity than non-Hispanic white women during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods
• Aim 2: Women in rural areas will have significantly higher prevalence of a maternal morbidity then urban women

• Aim 3: Black women who did not attend prenatal care will have reduced odds of postpartum visit attendance