Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Non-English-speaking individuals have noted disparities in health outcomes in the United States, but the role of language in obstetric settings is not well characterized. OBJECTIVE:We examined the association between primary spoken (preferred) language and the risk of nulliparous, term, singleton vertex cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous, term, singleton vertex deliveries in California (2016-2021) using birth certificates linked to hospital discharge records. The primary outcome was the risk of cesarean delivery. Poisson log-linear regression was used to estimate the association between preferred language and cesarean delivery overall, adjusted for demographic, hospital, and obstetric factors. Analyses were stratified by labor type (pre-labor versus intrapartum), risk characteristics (standard versus high risk), and hospital characteristics (hospital type [academic versus nonacademic], setting [urban versus non-urban], and annual hospital cesarean delivery volume by sample tertiles). RESULTS:Among 721,263 birthing people in California, 87,538 (12.1%) indicated that their preferred language was not English and 359,988 (49.9%) had no measured medical comorbidities (termed standard risk). Non-English speaking patients had a decreased risk of cesarean delivery (adjusted relative risk 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.96), including among Chinese- (adjusted relative risk 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.86) and Spanish-speaking patients (adjusted relative risk 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.93-0.97), although non-English speaking birthing people who preferred languages other than Spanish or Chinese had slightly higher risk of cesarean delivery (adjusted relative risk 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.10). There was a decreased cesarean risk among non-English speaking patients across labor types (spontaneous labor or prelabor rupture of membranes: adjusted relative risk 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.89-1.00; induced labor: adjusted relative risk 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.87-0.93; no indication of either: adjusted relative risk 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.95-1.00), among standard risk patients (adjusted relative risk 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.97), and across hospital type, setting, and annual cesarean delivery volume tertile. A small decrease in cesarean risk was also observed in teaching (adjusted relative risk 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.91-0.96) and non-teaching hospitals (adjusted relative risk 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.97), urban settings (adjusted relative risk 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.92-0.95), and highest volume tertile (adjusted relative risk 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.91-0.95), though there was no increase risk in non-urban settings (adjusted relative risk 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.95-1.11) and across lowest and middle volume tertiles (adjusted relative risk 1.01, 95% confidence interval 0.92-1.11; and adjusted relative risk 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.91-0.98, respectively). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Non-English language preference was associated with a slight decreased risk for cesarean delivery among nulliparous, term, singleton, and vertex presenting patients, and an increased risk among people who spoke other languages (i.e., not Chinese or Spanish). Our findings suggest that populations that speak less common non-English languages in California may be at elevated risk of disparate cesarean delivery outcomes.

Youth in northern Ghana experience high rates of unintended pregnancy due to limited access to and use of sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) services. Peer-led interventions are effective in increasing the youth uptake of SRH services, but limited peer-led interventions have been developed for Ghana. This study explores youth (ages 15-24 years) and clinical provider perspectives on youth SRH to inform the co-design of a peer-led SRH counseling program in northern Ghana. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 22 SRH providers and 27 youth. We then conducted an inductive thematic analysis and mapped themes onto the COM-B (Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior) model. Results revealed that youth capability to make informed and confident SRH decisions is constrained by a fragmented information environment. Although access to SRH services is increasing in the region, logistical and privacy barriers limit adolescents' opportunities to engage in care. Religious and cultural norms stigmatize youth SRH care, though support for contraceptive use is growing among more educated sectors. Youth motivation to use SRH services is driven by a desire for autonomy but undermined by concerns about contraceptive side effects and anticipated stigma. This study supports the co-development of a contextually grounded peer counseling SRH intervention in northern Ghana.

BACKGROUND:Preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks of gestation) is the leading cause of child mortality in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide, and has substantial short- and long-term health consequences for mothers and infants. Each year, > 350,000 infants in the U.S. are born preterm, and rates continue to rise in parallel with maternal risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, anemia, asthma, and mental health conditions. Evidence-based interventions exist for many of these conditions and are associated with improved pregnancy outcomes, including low-dose aspirin for preeclampsia prevention in individuals with chronic hypertension or pregestational diabetes, inhalers for asthma, iron for anemia, and therapy or medication for mental health disorders, but fewer than half of eligible individuals receive them, reflecting persistent gaps in use. To address this, we developed the PTB Actionable Risk Index (PTB-ARIx), which leverages factors with known evidence-based interventions to identify individuals who are pregnant and are at increased risk for PTB. This study evaluates performance of the PTB-ARIx throughout pregnancy with respect to risk determination and characterization of actionable risk factors, including their combined contributions to PTB. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked data for 1.9 million singleton live births in California in 2016-2020, divided into training and testing sets. Poisson regression estimated associations between 18 candidate risk factors for PTB with evidence-based interventions spanning clinical, behavioral, and social risks, including preeclampsia risk composites (≥ 1 high-risk or ≥ 2 moderate-risk factors based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria), maternal conditions (e.g., gestational hypertension, asthma), substance use, and social adversity. Beta coefficients were combined to construct the PTB-ARIx, evaluated by per-unit associations with PTB and by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) overall, by early (< 32 weeks), late (32-36 weeks), spontaneous, and medically-indicated PTB, and by PTB co-occurring with preeclampsia. FINDINGS/RESULTS:All risk factors were found to be associated with increased PTB risk. Having ≥ 1 high-risk or ≥ 2 moderate-risk factors for preeclampsia (based on composites) was most strongly related to PTB (relative risk (RR) 6.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.57, 6.89). Each unit increase in PTB-ARIx was associated with > 60% higher PTB risk (RRs 1.66-1.72) across training and testing samples, with consistent findings across PTB and race/ethnicity-insurance subgroups. Model performance was modest for late PTB (AUC ≈ 0.63), stronger for early PTB (0.69-0.72), and especially high for early PTB with preeclampsia (AUCs up to 0.97). Over 70% of individuals with PTB-ARIx scores ≥ 3.00 experienced PTB or another adverse outcome such as low birth weight (< 2,500 grams). CONCLUSIONS:The PTB-ARIx is a well-performing metric for identifying individuals at increased risk for PTB and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. By centering on modifiable risks, the PTB-ARIx combines risk identification with opportunities for intervention. Demonstrating strong performance across subgroups, including for early PTB and PTB with preeclampsia, the PTB-ARIx provides a potential pathway to improve patient-provider communication and uptake of equitable, evidence-based care. Further validation, including integration with treatment data, is needed to confirm its potential to reduce PTB risk and rates.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the association between severe perioperative surgical morbidity with cesarean delivery and postpartum readmission. METHODS:This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using linked birth certificate and maternal discharge data for patients who underwent cesarean delivery in any California hospital between October 2015 and October 2021. Severe perioperative surgical morbidity is an index characterized by severe surgical complications occurring during hospitalization for cesarean delivery, identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis and procedure codes for severe surgical complications. The primary outcome was all-cause postpartum readmission within 42 days after hospital discharge. Readmission rates were quantified for patients with and without severe perioperative surgical morbidity, and generalized estimating equations were used to estimate adjusted relative risks (aRRs), adjusted risk differences (aRD), and 95% CIs, accounting for patient- and hospital-level factors. In secondary analysis, the association was assessed separately for prelabor and intrapartum cesarean deliveries. RESULTS:The study population included women who had undergone 703,079 cesarean deliveries. The readmission rate was higher among those with severe perioperative surgical morbidity compared with those without severe perioperative surgical morbidity (469.4/10,000 [95% CI, 428.0-511.0] vs 165.3/10,000 [95% CI, 162.3-168.3]). Severe perioperative surgical morbidity was associated with a twofold increased risk of readmission (aRR 2.22; 95% CI, 2.00-2.46). The aRD for patients with severe perioperative surgical morbidity was an excess of two readmissions (2.5; 95% CI, 2.1-3.0/100 cesarean deliveries) compared with patients without severe perioperative surgical morbidity. Wound infection was the most common diagnosis at readmission among patients with severe perioperative surgical morbidity (77/10,000; 95% CI, 60.5-95.3). The risk of readmission was similar among patients with severe perioperative surgical morbidity and without severe perioperative surgical morbidity who underwent intrapartum cesarean delivery (aRR 2.35; 95% CI, 2.09-2.65) and prelabor cesarean delivery (aRR 2.03; 95% CI, 1.72-2.40). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Nearly 1 in 20 patients undergoing cesarean delivery who experience severe perioperative surgical morbidity undergoes postpartum readmission, with a twofold increased readmission risk at 42 days after discharge. Patients with severe perioperative surgical morbidity may benefit from targeted follow-up to reduce postpartum admission.

IntroductionWhile largely preventable, cervical cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where gaps in screening uptake persist despite expanding prevention efforts. In many patriarchal settings, men play influential roles in household decision-making and access to healthcare, positioning them as critical but under-engaged stakeholders. There remains limited understanding of how educational strategies to improve health literacy can be designed to effectively engage men in supporting women's screening participation.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study in northern Ghana to explore men's understanding, priorities, and values related to cervical cancer prevention to inform male-focused educational strategies. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Health Belief Model, 9 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with married adult men recruited from community settings, examining household roles, perceptions of cervical cancer and screening, and preferences for education and engagement approaches. Interviews were conducted in English or Dagbani, audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically using a hybrid inductive and deductive approach.ResultsThree cross-cutting themes emerged. Men viewed healthcare professionals as trusted sources of cervical cancer information and described their roles as primary financial decision-makers, with cost and competing household priorities influencing support for screening. Masculine responsibility, particularly related to fertility and family wellbeing, strongly motivated engagement, and messages framed around these themes were more compelling than disease-focused messaging alone. Participants recommended integrating education into routine health services, leveraging healthcare workers, offsetting screening-related costs, and using mass media to initiate awareness and information seeking.ConclusionMen represent pivotal yet underutilized partners in cervical cancer prevention. Educational strategies that align with men's roles, economic realities, and trusted sources of information and address household decision-making barriers may enhance screening uptake while supporting women-centered care. These findings provide implementation-relevant insights to inform male-engaged cervical cancer prevention strategies across diverse LMIC settings.

OBJECTIVE:It is critical to understand the characteristics of people who use cannabis during pregnancy. We examined the prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of current, recent, former, and never cannabis use among pregnant individuals in the U.S. METHODS:We analyzed pooled data from 1,992 pregnant participants in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2021 to 2023. We used multinomial regression to identify correlates of cannabis use status (i.e., never use vs. current [past 30-day], recent [past 2-12-month], and former [nonuse in the past year], respectively). RESULTS:Overall, nearly 7% of pregnant participants reported current cannabis use. Among current users, 31% reported any doctor-recommended cannabis use in the past year and 52% bought their cannabis from a dispensary. Compared to never users, current cannabis use was more likely among those aged 18-25 (vs. 26+; Relative Risk Ratio [RRR] = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.04-4.18), unmarried (vs. married; RRR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.05-6.14), with greater education (vs. < high school; RRR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.42-6.23), past 30-day cigarette use (RRR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.11-5.94), alcohol use (RRR = 7.24, 95% CI: 1.52-34.49), e-cigarette use (RRR = 4.92, 95% CI: 1.71-14.10), or serious psychological distress (RRR = 6.25, 95% CI: 2.46-15.85); current use was less likely among those perceiving some risk of weekly cannabis use (vs. no risk; RRR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03-0.14). Recent use (vs. never use) was less likely in states where cannabis was illegal (RRR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.22-0.95). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Cannabis use during pregnancy remains high among certain subgroups. Future research should develop tailored interventions targeting motivations of cannabis use during pregnancy, such as risk perceptions and polysubstance use, which negatively impact maternal and fetal health.

OBJECTIVE:Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. This case study aims to assess current PPH at our study site hospital, identify strategies to enhance management based on audit findings, and pilot test the feasibility and acceptability of these strategies. METHODS:A criteria-based audit (CBA) was conducted at La Maternidad Renee Klang Viuda Guzman Hospital in Santiago, Dominican Republic from November 2021 to September 2022. The audit assessed current practice through surveys of 59 healthcare workers and a retrospective review of 10 PPH cases, using eight evidence-based criteria. Audit findings informed the development of a PPH toolkit, protocol, and simulation-based training program (SBT). The toolkit's impact was evaluated through surveys, and SBT effectiveness was assess through post-training feedback from participants. RESULTS:The baseline audit revealed 25% compliance with evidence-based criteria. Key gaps included maternal risk assessment, provider training, and protocol use. Targeted strategies, including a PPH toolkit, protocol and SBT, were implemented. Of the 13 toolkit users, 92% felt it improved timely management. Post-SBT surveys showed that participants rated the training highly, with significant improvements in communication, teamwork, and self-reported competence in PPH management. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:CBAs are effective in identifying care barriers in middle-income settings. The PPH toolkit and SBT were well received and improved both technical and non-technical skills, offering a scalable model for improving PPH management in low-resource settings.

OBJECTIVE:Guatemala has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Central America. A total of 60% of births in Guatemala are attended by traditional Mayan birth attendants, or comadronas. Their prevalence in these communities makes them a valuable resource to bridge home births with safe prenatal care. The objective of this study was to evaluate a low-cost prenatal care training program for Guatemalan comadronas with the goal of improving maternal health outcomes in the region. METHODS:In this retrospective longitudinal cohort study, we examined the knowledge retention of comadronas enrolled in a 12-month prenatal care training program known as the School of PowHER (SOP). Recruited from the Lake Atitlán region of Guatemala by Saving Mothers, 501(c)(3) and the Guatemalan Ministry of Health, comadronas participated in a four-month didactic curriculum followed by a nine-month clinical curriculum. Pre- and post-tests were administered to assess learning outcomes over the study's duration (2014-2022), and test results were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of the SOP. RESULTS:A total of 123 women were recruited and enrolled in all eight graduating classes of the SOP from 2014, 2016-2019, and 2021-2022. An average, statistically significant improvement in didactic and clinical pre- and post-test scores was found across all years analyzed. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The SOP is a low-cost, culturally appropriate, community-based model that empowers comadronas through knowledge and skill acquisition to improve local maternal health outcomes. This program proves effective at not only teaching comadronas prenatal health information and clinical skills, but also at promoting long-term retention of these skills.