Two pregnant people, one Black and one white, with identical medical histories and pregnancies, walking into the same hospital to give birth. They are seeing the same obstetrician. A study of births in New Jersey hospitals revealed that the Black patient would be about 20 percent more likely to get an unscheduled C-section than the white patient. This difference remains even higher without accounting for factors like health status or access to good hospitals and doctors. Researchers found that Black pregnant individuals are nearly 25 percent more likely to undergo an unscheduled C-section compared to their white counterparts.
While C-sections can be life-saving, they also come with the risks associated with serious surgery. The idea that individuals might be pressured into having unnecessary C-sections is concerning. The fact that this pressure seems to disproportionately affect Black individuals is even more troubling.
Adriana Corredor-Waldron, an assistant professor of economics at NC State University and one of the authors of the study, explained the research findings. The study aimed to understand why Black infants are more likely to be delivered by C-section than white infants. The researchers analyzed data from New Jersey from 2008 to 2017, focusing on over 900,000 births.
The study found that even after adjusting for medical risk factors, hospital differences, and socioeconomic characteristics, the racial gap in C-section rates remained at 20 percent. This indicates that provider discretion plays a role in the disparities observed. The data suggested that the racial gap was present when the operating room was empty, indicating potential biases in doctors’ decision-making.
Corredor-Waldron highlighted the importance of promoting diversity in the medical profession to address these disparities. The study also suggested that having advocates like birth doulas and implementing value-based payments in healthcare could help improve maternal health care equity.
Further research is needed to explore other decisions around childbirth, such as inductions, and their impact on maternal and fetal health. By addressing systemic issues and promoting equitable healthcare practices, we can work towards ensuring better outcomes for all pregnant individuals, regardless of race.