Persistent racial disparities in neonatal mortality rates are a major public health concern. Black neonates are more than twice as likely to die as white neonates. In previous research in New York City (NYC) hospitals, we found nearly a three-fold variation in risk-adjusted very low birth weight (VLBW) neonatal mortality rates among hospitals and black infants were much more likely to be born at higher mortality hospitals. The factors that influence wide variation in mortality rates among hospitals are not known. Why black women are more likely to deliver at higher mortality hospitals is also unknown. The objectives of this study are: 1) To examine risk- adjusted neonatal mortality among New York City hospitals over the past decade and assess the extent to which variations in hospital quality contribute to VLBW mortality disparities for blacks and Latinos; 2) To use an innovative mixed methods approach to explore processes of care, unit characteristics, patient factors, and organizational factors that explain differences in hospital quality as measured by overall and cause-specific risk-adjusted mortality rates and use of evidence-based practices; 3) To explore patients' perspectives on barriers to receipt of high quality care by exploring barriers to timely care, communication, availability of high risk obstetrics care, knowledge, decision-making regarding delivery hospital, and perception of risk; and 4) To create specific strategies with key stakeholders to promote uptake of best practices at hospitals caring for VLBW infants including patient-centered strategies to minimize barriers to receipt of high quality care. Methods: In Phase 1, we will use NYC Vital Statistics records linked with New York State Discharge Abstract Data to develop a risk-adjusted VLBW neonatal mortality model. We will use this model to rank hospitals based on risk-adjusted mortality. We will then examine the distribution of black, Latino, and white births among hospitals. In Phases 2 and 3 we will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to determine which hospital factors and practice patterns may explain the wide variation in mortality outcomes among hospitals and to explore why black mothers deliver in higher mortality hospitals. We will then convene leaders of obstetrics and neonatologists, hospital quality leaders, community leaders, NYC and State Departments of Health, and patients to discuss our results and explore interventions to improve care for VLBW infants. Information from this study will provide a better understanding of quality in neonatal care in hospitals and reveal specific processes of care that can be improved upon to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in neonatal outcomes.
Significant black/white disparities in neonatal mortality rates are partially explained by the fact that black mothers are more likely to deliver in higher mortaliy hospitals. Results from this study will explore why such wide variations in hospital neonatal mortality rates exist and why black moms deliver at higher mortality hospitals. Ultimately, our findings will direct future efforts to reduce racial disparities in neonatal outcomes.
| Howell, Elizabeth A; Janevic, Teresa; Hebert, Paul L et al. (2018) Differences in Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Black, White, and Hispanic Very Preterm Infants Among New York City Hospitals. JAMA Pediatr 172:269-277 |
| Janevic, Teresa; Zeitlin, Jennifer; Auger, Nathalie et al. (2018) Association of Race/Ethnicity With Very Preterm Neonatal Morbidities. JAMA Pediatr 172:1061-1069 |
| Howell, Elizabeth A; Zeitlin, Jennifer (2017) Quality of Care and Disparities in Obstetrics. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 44:13-25 |
| Hebert, Paul L; Howell, Elizabeth A; Wong, Edwin S et al. (2017) Methods for Measuring Racial Differences in Hospitals Outcomes Attributable to Disparities in Use of High-Quality Hospital Care. Health Serv Res 52:826-848 |
