The importance of geographic data aggregation in assessing disparities in American Indian prenatal care.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether aggregate national data for American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs) mask geographic variation and substantial subnational disparities in prenatal care utilization.


METHODS
We used data for US births from 1995 to 1997 and from 2000 to 2002 to examine prenatal care utilization among AIAN and non-Hispanic White mothers. The indicators we studied were late entry into prenatal care and inadequate utilization of prenatal care. We calculated rates and disparities for each indicator at the national, regional, and state levels, and we examined whether estimates for regions and states differed significantly from national estimates. We then estimated state-specific changes in prevalence rates and disparity rates over time.


RESULTS
Prenatal care utilization varied by region and state for AIANs and non-Hispanic Whites. In the 12 states with the largest AIAN birth populations, disparities varied dramatically. In addition, some states demonstrated substantial reductions in disparities over time, and other states showed significant increases in disparities.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantive conclusions about AIAN health care disparities should be geographically specific, and conclusions drawn at the national level may be unsuitable for policymaking and intervention at state and local levels. Efforts to accommodate the geographically specific data needs of AIAN health researchers and others interested in state-level comparisons are warranted.
Johnson
Pamela Jo
PJ
State Health Access Data Assistance Center, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, and Center for Healthcare Innovation, Allina Hospitals & Clinics, 2925 Chicago Ave, Mail Route 10105, Minneapolis, MN 55407, USA. johns245@umn.edu
Call
Kathleen Thiede
KT
Blewett
Lynn A
LA
D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data