Quality of Care and Disparities in Obstetrics.
Growing attention is being paid to obstetric quality of care as patients are pressing the health care system to measure and improve quality. There is also an increasing recognition of persistent racial and ethnic disparities prevalent in obstetric outcomes. Yet few studies have linked obstetric quality of care with racial and ethnic disparities. This article reviews definitions of quality of care, health disparities, and health equity as they relate to obstetric care and outcomes; describes current efforts and challenges in obstetric quality measurement; and proposes 3 steps in an effort to develop, track, and improve quality and reduce disparities in obstetrics.
Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. Electronic address: elizabeth.howell@mountsinai.org.
Elizabeth A
EA
Howell
Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in Pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Maternité Port Royal, 53 avenue de l'Observatoire, Paris 75014, France.
Jennifer
J
Zeitlin
D000328:Adult; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
Disparities; Equity; Obstetrics; Quality improvement; Quality of care