DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLACK-AND-WHITE WOMEN IN THE USE OF PRENATAL-CARETECHNOLOGIES

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the cont ent of prenatal care received by black and white women in the United S tates differs, as measured by the use of amniocentesis, ultrasonograph y, and tocolysis. STUDY DESIGN: This study uses data from birth certif icates issued for births occurring in the United States in 1990. Multi variate analyses were used to calculate the relative risk of receipt o f each technology by black women compared with white women. RESULTS: A mniocentesis was used substantially less frequently by black women (re lative risk 0.6), whereas ultrasonography was received by black women slightly less frequently than white women (relative risk 0.9). Tocolys is use varied by plurality. Black women with singleton births were sli ghtly more likely to receive tocolysis than were white women (relative risk 1.1), although the risk of idiopathic preterm delivery is estima ted to be three times higher in black women. Black women with multiple births received tocolysis two thirds as often as white women. CONCLUS IONS: These results suggest that differences exist in the content of p renatal care received by black and white women in the United States, T his finding should be followed up with more detailed studies to identi fy its cause and possible interventions.