RACIAL DISPARITIES IN REPORTED PRENATAL-CARE ADVICE FROM HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS

Objectives. The relationship between certain maternal behaviors and ad verse pregnancy outcomes has been well documented. One method to alter these behaviors is through the advice of women's health care provider s. Advice from providers may be particularly important in minority pop ulations, who have higher rates of infant mortality and prematurity. T his study examines racial disparities according to women's self-report of advice received from health care providers during pregnancy in fou r areas: tobacco use, alcohol consumption, drug use, and breast-feedin g. Methods. Health care providers' advice to 8310 White non-Hispanic a nd Black women was obtained from the National Maternal and Infant Heal th Survey. Results. After controlling for sociodemographic, utilizatio n, and medical factors, Black women were more likely to report not rec eiving advice from their prenatal care providers about smoking cessati on and alcohol use. The difference between Blacks and Whites also appr oached significance for breast-feeding. No overall difference was note d in advice regarding cessation of drug use, although there was a sign ificant interaction between race and marital status. Conclusions. Thes e data suggest that Black women may be at greater risk for not receivi ng information that could reduce their chances of having an adverse pr egnancy outcome.