Preterm birth outcomes among Asian women by maternal place of birth

Experiences of Hmong Women in the Perinatal Period

OBJECTIVE

To explore Hmong women's experiences in the perinatal period and how their cultural practices intersect with Western health care in the United States.

DESIGN

Descriptive qualitative study.

SETTING

In-person and online interviews in several geographic locations in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-five Hmong women with a mean age of 35.7 years (SD = 4.1 years) from Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. Most had at least a bachelor's degree and one to seven children.

METHODS

We recruited participants using purposive sampling through social media and word of mouth, collected data via semistructured interviews with audio recording, used verbatim transcription, and conducted reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants' experiences focused on three overarching themes: Navigating the Hmong Traditional World, Navigating Adverse Perinatal Experiences in the Medical World, and Walking Two Worlds Alone. While navigating the traditional Hmong world, participants managed cultural expectations and experienced cultural silencing about certain perinatal topics. Simultaneously, participants navigated adverse experiences such as a lack of shared decision-making and support from health care providers in the Western medical world. They often encountered challenges with navigating the intersection of both worlds alone and reported inadequate support and guidance.

CONCLUSION

We found that participants' experiences in the perinatal period were shaped by cultural, social, and health care-related factors. More culturally responsive care is needed to improve the health outcomes of Hmong women in the perinatal period.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Insufficiency, Cervical Cerclage, and Preterm Birth

Background: The frequency of cervical insufficiency differs among the major racial and ethnic groups, with limited data specific to Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) subpopulations. We assessed cervical insufficiency diagnoses and related outcomes across 10 racial and ethnic groups, including disaggregated AANHPI subgroups, in a large population-based cohort. Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all singleton births between 20-42 weeks' gestation in California from 2007 to 2018. Logistic regression models were performed to estimate the odds of cervical insufficiency and, among people with cervical insufficiency, the odds of cerclage and preterm birth according to self-reported race and ethnicity. Results: Among 5,114,470 births, 38,605 (0.8%) had a diagnosis code for cervical insufficiency. Compared with non-Hispanic White people, non-Hispanic Black people had the highest odds of cervical insufficiency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.97, 3.18), for cerclage placement and higher odds for preterm birth. Disaggregating AANHPI subgroups showed that Indian people had the highest odds (aOR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.82, 2.07) of cervical insufficiency and had significantly higher odds of cerclage without increased odds of preterm birth; Southeast Asian people had the highest odds of preterm birth. Conclusion: Within a large, diverse population-based cohort, non-Hispanic Black people experienced the highest rates of cervical insufficiency, and among those with cervical insufficiency, had among the highest rates of cerclage and preterm birth. Among AANHPI subgroups specifically, Indian people had the highest rates of cervical insufficiency and cerclage placement, without increased rates of preterm birth; Southeast Asian people had the highest rates of preterm birth, without increased rates of cerclage. Disaggregating AANHPI subgroups identifies important differences in obstetric risk factors and outcomes.

Disparities in birth outcomes within the U.S. White population: Prevalence of low birth weight among immigrant mothers from the Middle East and North Africa

Immigration from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has diversified the U.S. non-Hispanic White population. Analyzing health disparities within this group is a complex task due to data limitations across most federal and state data collection systems. This study investigates disparities in the risk of giving birth to a low-birth-weight infant among foreign-born non-Hispanic White MENA and non-MENA mothers and by MENA mothers' nationality. This population-based study uses Restricted-Use Detail Natality Data from 2016 to 2019 accessed through the National Center for Health Statistics and provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study examines the risk of giving birth to a low-birth-weight infant (<2500g) among foreign-born non-Hispanic White mothers by MENA/non-MENA status as the primary independent variable of interest. Logistic regression models are used to control for social and demographic characteristics, medical risk factors, and measures of prenatal care adequacy. Results are presented as odds ratios. Among foreign-born non-Hispanic White mothers, 139,708 (32%) are classified as MENA and 296,093 (68%) as non-MENA. Results show that after controlling for social and demographic characteristics, medical factors, and measures of prenatal care adequacy, foreign-born non-Hispanic White MENA mothers have greater odds of giving birth to a low-birth-weight infant than their non-MENA counterparts (OR: 1.443, p-value <0.001). Increased immigration from the MENA region has contributed to changes in health profiles among foreign-born non-Hispanic White mothers. As this group grows, understanding the impact of immigration on the composition of the non-Hispanic White population, and consequently, racial disparities in the U.S., is crucial for researchers and policymakers.

Disparities in Adverse Maternal Outcomes Among Five Race and Ethnicity Groups

Background: Racial/ethnic disparities are evident in adverse maternal health outcomes, but they are shifting due to interventions, initiatives, changing demographics, and the prevalence of preexisting conditions. This study examined the current racial/ethnic disparities in adverse maternal outcomes. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for the principal diagnosis and secondary diagnoses were retrieved from the National Inpatient Sample database (2016-2018). A weighted multiple logistic regression model assessed disparities in seven adverse maternal outcomes, including preterm labor, gestational hypertension (GHTN) and diabetes, premature rupture of membranes (PRM), infection of the amniotic cavity (INFAC), placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). A weighted linear regression model assessed disparities in a composite variable of maternal outcomes. A maternal-specific comorbidity index assessed risk adjustment, and other clinical, sociodemographic, and hospital factors were considered. Results: A total of 2,211,345 pregnancies were included. Preterm labor, GHTN, and placental abruption had the highest raw rate among Black women compared to all races. After adjusting for control variables in the regression analysis, these adverse outcomes also showed the highest odds ratio (OR) among Black women compared to White women (the reference group). Gestational diabetes, PRM, and INFAC had the highest raw rate among Asians/Pacific Islanders (PIs). After adjusting for control variables, these adverse outcomes also showed the highest OR among Asians/PIs compared to White women. The OR for PPH was the highest for Native Americans compared to White women. Furthermore, results of the composite outcome variable indicated that all minority groups experienced the overall poorer maternal outcome than White women. Conclusions: Overall, all four minority women had higher raw rates and also odds of experiencing the studied adverse outcomes than White women. Existing efforts should be strengthened to continue reducing racial/ethnic disparities in adverse maternal outcomes.

Birth Tourism Is Associated with Fewer Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admissions: A Healthy Migrant Effect?

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to study perinatal, maternal, and neonatal characteristics of birth tourism (BT) mother-baby dyads and the rate of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions of BT infants.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study at a regional perinatal center comparing BT mother-baby dyads to all dyads. BT infants admitted to the NICU were compared with a randomly selected group of infants admitted to the NICU during the same time period.

RESULTS

A total of 1,755 BT dyads were identified over 4 years. BT mothers were older (32 vs. 28 years, p < 0.0001), more likely to carry multiples (5.5 vs. 1.4%, p < 0.0001), deliver via cesarean section (40 vs. 34%, p < 0.0001), and require postpartum intensive care (0.6 vs. 0.1%, p < 0.0001). BT infants had significantly fewer NICU admissions 96 (5.5%) versus 3,213 (11.3%; p < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in NICU course and outcome between BT and non-BT control infants.

CONCLUSION

Birth tourism is associated with unique determinants of health. In our study, there were fewer NICU admissions, potentially explained by the healthy migrant effect.

KEY POINTS

· Birthright citizenship attracts foreigners to give birth in the United States.. · BT is associated with unique social determinants of health.. · Fewer NICU admissions in our study are possibly explained by the healthy migrant effect..

Different maternal age patterns of preterm birth: Interplay of race/ethnicity, chronic stress, and marital status

The aim of this study was to examine whether the preterm birth (PTB) risks according to maternal age is altered by a woman's marital status and chronic stress among non-Hispanic (N-H) White, N-H Black, Hispanic, and Asian women. This researcher analyzed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data for New York City and Washington State linked with the birth certificates for 2004-2007. The sample included 6344 singleton live births without birth defects to women aged 18 years or older identified as N-H White, N-H Black, Hispanic, or Asian. The outcome was PTB. Maternal age-specific PTB rates were calculated according to race/ethnicity, marital status, and chronic stress. Linear trends of PTB rates with maternal age were evaluated by the Mantel-Haenszel χ² test. Marriage had a protective effect against PTB at advancing maternal age across racial/ethnic groups. The health benefit of marriage was strong, particularly among the married N-H Black and Asian women, manifested as a maternal age-related decrease in the PTB rate (reverse-weathering). In contrast, women not married showed a maternal age-related increase in the PTB rate (weathering) across the racial/ethnic groups. Under higher chronic stress, married women generally experienced less weathering about PTB. These patterns were observed with noticeable racial/ethnic variations. Acknowledging the different dynamics among maternal age, marital status, and chronic stress by race/ethnicity could help shed light on the psychosocial mechanisms underlying the racial/ethnic inequalities in PTB in the United States. To that end, future studies should use more nuanced measurements of paternal support and chronic stress.

Incidence and risk of stillbirth among various Asian-American subgroups

BACKGROUND

Striking racial/ethnic disparities exist in pregnancy outcomes among various racial/ethnic.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence and risk factors associated with stillbirth in Asian-American women.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted this retrospective cohort study using the United States Birth and Fetal Death data files 2014-2017. We used the fetuses-at-risk approach to generate stillbirth trends by gestational age among Non-Hispanic (NH)-White and Asian-American births during the study period. We calculated the adjusted risk of stillbirth for Asian-Americans, overall, and for each Asian-American subgroup: Asian Indians, Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Filipinos, with NH-Whites as the referent category.

RESULTS

Of the 715,297 births that occurred among Asian-Americans during the study period, stillbirth incidence rate was 3.86 per 1000 births. From the gestational age of 20 weeks through 41 weeks, the stillbirth rates were consistently lower among Asian-Americans compared to NH-Whites. Stillbirth incidence ranged from a low rate of 2.6 per 1000 births in Koreans to as high as 5.3 per 1000 births in Filipinos. After adjusting for potentially confounding characteristics, Asian-Americans were about half as likely to experience stillbirth compared to NH-White mothers [adjusted hazards ratio (AHR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.51-0.64]. This intrauterine survival advantage was evident in all Asian-American subgroups.

CONCLUSION

The risk of stillbirth is twofold lower in Asian-Americans than in NH-Whites. It will be an important research agenda to determine reasons for the improved intrauterine survival among Asian-Americans in order to uncover clues for reducing the burden of stillbirth among other racial/ethnic minority women in the United States.

Trends and predictors of preterm birth among Asian Americans by ethnicity, 1992-2018

BACKGROUND

In an increasingly diverse United States (US) population, racial disparities in preterm birth outcomes continue to widen.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we examined temporal trends and risk of preterm birth among Asian American women over a quarter century (1992-2018).

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective cohort study using the 1992-2018 Natality data files. We conducted joinpoint regression analyses to examine trends in preterm birth among Asian Americans and non-Hispanic (NH) Whites. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with preterm birth among Asian Americans and their ethnic sub-groups as compared to NH-Whites.

RESULTS

There were a total of 251,278 preterm births among Asian American women, corresponding to a rate of 10.0%, which was relatively stable over time. The incidence of extremely, very and moderate-to-late preterm birth among Asian Americans was 0.4%, 0.9% and 8.7% respectively. Overall, Asian American women exhibited lower adjusted odds (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88-0.97) of preterm birth than their NH-White counterparts. Comparing Asian American subgroups to NH-Whites, Filipinas and Vietnamese mothers had increased adjusted odds, whereas Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Asian Indian women showed decreased adjusted odds for preterm birth.

CONCLUSION

The risk of preterm birth varied among the ethnic subgroups of Asian Americans in the United States. Future studies should explore the socio-cultural and environmental nuances that might explain these differences.

Risk factors for postpartum readmission among women after having a stillbirth

BACKGROUND

Compared to women with a live birth, women with a stillbirth are more likely to have maternal complications during pregnancy and at birth, but risk factors related to their postpartum health are uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify patient-level risk factors for postpartum hospital readmission among women after having a stillbirth.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a population-based cohort study of 29,654 women with a stillbirth in California from 1997 to 2011. Using logistic regression models, we examined the association of maternal patient-level factors with postpartum readmission among women after a stillbirth within 6 weeks of hospital discharge and between 6 weeks and 9 months after delivery.

RESULTS

Within 6 weeks after a stillbirth, 642 women (2.2%) had a postpartum readmission. Risk factors for postpartum readmission after a stillbirth were severe maternal morbidity excluding transfusion (adjusted odds ratio, 3.02; 95% confidence interval, 2.28-4.00), transfusion at delivery but no other indication of severe maternal morbidity (adjusted odds ratio, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-2.81), gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.42), prepregnancy hypertension (adjusted odds ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-2.37), diabetes mellitus (adjusted odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.37), antenatal hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.21), cesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.21), long length of stay in the hospital after delivery (>2 days for vaginal delivery and >4 days for cesarean delivery) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-1.89), non-Hispanic black race and ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.76), and having less than a high school education (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.80). From 6 weeks to 9 months, 1169 women (3.90%) had a postpartum readmission; significantly associated risk factors were largely similar to those for earlier readmission.

CONCLUSION

Women with comorbidities, with birth-related complications, of non-Hispanic black race and ethnicity, or with less education had increased odds of postpartum readmission after having a stillbirth, highlighting the importance of continued care for these women after discharge from the hospital.

Outcomes of Infants with Very Low Birth Weight Associated with Birthplace Difference: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Births in Japan and California

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether outcomes among infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) vary according to the birthplace (Japan or California) controlling for maternal ethnicity.

STUDY DESIGN

Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and mortality were ascertained for infants with VLBW born at 24-29 weeks of gestation during 2008-2017 and retrospectively analyzed by the country of birth for mothers and infants (Japan or California).

RESULTS

Rates of severe IVH, mortality, or combined IVH/mortality were lower in the 24 095 infants born in Japan (5.1%, 5.0%, 8.8% respectively) compared with infants born in California either to 157 mothers with Japanese ethnicity (12.5%, 9.7%, 17.8%) or to a comparison group of 6173 non-Hispanic white mothers (8.4%, 8.8%, 14.6%). ORs for adverse outcomes were increased for infants born in California to mothers with Japanese ethnicity compared with infants born in Japan for severe IVH (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.93-5.68), mortality (3.73; 95% CI, 2.03-6.86), and the combined outcome (3.26; 95% CI, 2.02-5.27). The odds of these outcomes also were increased for infants born in California to non-Hispanic white mothers compared with infants born in Japan. Outcomes of infants born in California did not differ by Japanese or non-Hispanic white maternal ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Low rates of severe IVH and mortality for infants with VLBW born in Japan were not seen in infants born in California to mothers with Japanese ethnicity. Differences in systems of regional perinatal care, social environment, and the quality of perinatal care may partially account for these differences in outcomes.