Maternal and child health journal
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Matern Child Health J · Mar 2000
Comparative StudyUse of high-technology care among women with high-risk pregnancies in the United States.
Infant mortality has been reduced dramatically with the development of perinatal regionalized high-technology care. Our objective was to assess use of high technology care among women with high-risk pregnancies in the urban and rural United States. ⋯ In an era where regionalized perinatal care was not threatened by managed care, a large proportion of high-risk women received care in less than optimal settings. Rural high-risk women delivered in high-technology hospitals less often than their urban counterparts. The multivariate analyses implied that the potential barriers to care may be more important among those considered more socially advantaged, who may be more at the mercy of managed care. The current reimbursement environment, which discourages referral to specialists and high-technology care, could result in less access today.
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The purpose of this study is to examine the trends in multiple deliveries in North Carolina and assess their effect on the rates of low birth weight, fetal mortality, and infant mortality. ⋯ Multiple births are an increasingly important contributor to perinatal outcomes, and warrant greater consideration in research aimed at evaluating trends in low birth weight and infant mortality.
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Matern Child Health J · Dec 1997
Comparative StudyRacial differences in perceived barriers to prenatal care.
It is well known that black women are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care than white women. This study examines whether there are differences in barriers to prenatal care reported by black and white mothers. ⋯ This study suggests that though black women are less likely to receive prenatal care than white women, they are less likely to report barriers to such care. This may be due to differing expectations from the health system. The investigation of perceived barriers to care is important to the consequent understanding of what steps must be taken to assure that pregnant women do not experience obstacles to the receipt of prenatal care.