Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality—A Call for Inclusion of Disability in Obstetric Research and Health Care Professional Education

Hilary K Brown

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.38910

Abstract

Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality—A Call for Inclusion of Disability in Obstetric Research and Health Care Professional Education

Highlights

To facilitate further research on maternal disability and obstetric outcomes, there is a need for routine inclusion of disability indicators in health administrative data
The research by Gleason et al,[2] along with the growing body of evidence on disparities in maternal outcomes experienced by women with disabilities,[6] shows that inclusion of disability indicators needs to be the norm—not the exception—in health administrative data so that these disparities can be regularly tracked and addressed
It is wellestablished that women with disabilities experience preconception social, health, and health care disparities, such as poverty, chronic illness, and barriers to health care, that are known risk factors for adverse maternal outcomes.[4]

Summary

Introduction

To facilitate further research on maternal disability and obstetric outcomes, there is a need for routine inclusion of disability indicators in health administrative data. Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality for Women With Disability analysis by Gleason et al[2] was that their definition of disability was based on a medical model of disability, using diagnostic codes to identify disability in health administrative data[2] rather than using self-reported activity limitations or participation restrictions.

Results

Conclusion