A new study published in Scientific Reports has found significant racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) across different community settings in the United States. Analyzing over 14 million delivery hospitalizations from 2016-2019, researchers discovered that Black women faced higher odds of experiencing SMM compared to White women, regardless of location or community income levels.
The study showed that in rural areas, Black women were 50% more likely to experience SMM than White women. In micropolitan areas, Black women had 76% higher odds, while Asian/Pacific Islander women had 54% higher odds. Even in large metropolitan areas with presumably better access to care, Black women still faced 88% higher odds of SMM.
Strikingly, the disparity persisted across all income levels. In the highest-income communities, Black women had over twice the odds of experiencing SMM compared to White women.
“Our study shows that there are stark racial and ethnic disparities in SMM by community income and location of residence, suggesting that there are systemic and structural factors that are associated with SMM,” the researchers concluded.
The researchers emphasized that these disparities likely stem from characteristics of care received rather than patient factors. They call for a multi-faceted approach to address racism and discrimination in healthcare settings, as well as investments in rural and low-income healthcare infrastructure to improve maternal health outcomes for all women.
