1. Distance to Hospital-based Intrapartum Care and Planned Home Birth in Minnesota.
- Author
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Parks Santangelo E, Osypuk T, and Mason SM
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Minnesota, Odds Ratio, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Rural Health Services statistics & numerical data, Rural Population statistics & numerical data, Young Adult, Health Services Accessibility statistics & numerical data, Home Childbirth statistics & numerical data, Hospitals statistics & numerical data, Maternal Health Services statistics & numerical data, Travel statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Introduction: Loss of hospital-based intrapartum services is associated with increases in out-of-hospital births, but less is known about associations with planned home birth. This study explores the impact of distance to hospital-based intrapartum care on planned home birth., Methods: Public-use Minnesota birth certificate data were merged with Minnesota Hospital Annual Report data (2011-2016) to test the relationship of miles from maternal residence to hospital-based intrapartum care with planned home birth in Minnesota. Logistic regression models estimated the odds of a planned home birth versus hospital birth as a function of miles to hospital-based intrapartum care., Results: The number of hospitals offering birth services in Minnesota declined by 11% from 2011 to 2016. Moderate (>20-50 miles) and great (>50 miles) distances to nearest hospital-based intrapartum care were associated with increased odds of planned home birth compared with short distances (≤20 miles). Adjusted odds ratios were 3.31 (95% CI, 3.04-3.61) and 3.89 (95% CI, 2.37-6.37), respectively, after adjusting for maternal education, age, and race. Planned home birth was the intended birth setting in 4.3% of births among those living great distances from hospital-based intrapartum care, compared with 1.0% among those living a short distance from hospital-based intrapartum care., Discussion: Better understanding of how geographical barriers affect preferred birth settings can inform efforts to reduce the impact of hospital-based intrapartum service loss on rural women and their birth outcomes., (© 2020 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.)
- Published
- 2020
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