Journal article
Preterm Births and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician Workforce Location in the United States
American journal of perinatology, Vol.42(13), pp.1738-1742
10/2025
DOI: 10.1055/a-2531-2783
PMID: 40049592
Abstract
Examine for association between geographic disparity in the national maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) physician workforce distribution and preterm birth (PTB) rate in counties without MFM presence.Cohort study of PTBs in the United States from 2015 to 2019, utilizing National Center for Health Statistics natality data. The independent risk factor is the presence of an MFM physician in the county or county equivalent where the pregnant woman resides. Bivariate logistic regression analysis estimated the odds of county-level PTB rates higher than the national average (10.2%, March of Dimes 2019 national data) by MFM physician location.The Northeast, Southeast, and Pacific Coast regions of the United States had the highest density of physician practice locations whereas regions in the Midwest and Western United States had the lowest density. Of the 2,981 counties with PTB rates available, 90.3% (
= 2,691) did not have a practicing MFM physician. U.S. counties without an MFM physician are more likely to have a PTB rate higher than the national average, operating room (OR) = 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.99), compared with a county with at least one MFM physician.Counties with no practicing MFM physician had a 56% increase in the odds of having PTB rates higher than the national average. The lack of proximate high-risk obstetric care is a geographic health disparity associated with PTB. The location of the MFM workforce has implications for both clinical care and health policy. These data suggest that attention should be directed toward where physicians practice and to increase access to care for at-risk pregnant women. · U.S. regions with the highest concentration of MFM physicians remain unchanged from prior publications.. · Only 9.7% of counties reporting PTB data have practicing MFM physicians.. · Counties without an MFM physician have 56% higher odds of exceeding national PTB rates.. · Regional disparities in MFM physician distribution may impact maternal and neonatal outcomes..
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Preterm Births and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician Workforce Location in the United States
- Creators
- Andrea L Greiner - University of IowaSina Haeri - Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Ouma Health, Park City, UtahNichole L Nidey - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of perinatology, Vol.42(13), pp.1738-1742
- DOI
- 10.1055/a-2531-2783
- PMID
- 40049592
- NLM abbreviation
- Am J Perinatol
- ISSN
- 1098-8785
- eISSN
- 1098-8785
- Publisher
- THIEME MEDICAL PUBL INC
- Grant note
- March of Dimes
The authors would like to acknowledge March of Dimes, who provided the preterm birth data, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Health Policy and Advocacy Committee. Dr. Greiner and Dr. Haeri were members of this committee at the time this analysis was completed.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 03/06/2025
- Date published
- 10/2025
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Addiction Medicine; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Record Identifier
- 9984798231602771
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