Preprint
Examining Perinatal Regionalization in Practice: A Network Analysis of Maternal Transport in Georgia
medRxiv
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1.1
02/18/2025
DOI: 10.1101/2025.02.14.25322280
PMCID: PMC11875245
PMID: 40034757
Abstract
The primary objective was to use network analysis to characterize maternal transport patterns in the state of Georgia and compare them with the state’s designated perinatal regions (DPRs).
Using 2017-2022 birth records in Georgia, we constructed network graphs of maternal transport routes among obstetric facilities. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with inter-DPR transports. We applied a community-detection algorithm to cluster facilities and compared the clusters to Georgia’s DPRs.
Among 774 639 deliveries, 2 757 (0.36%) involved transports among obstetric facilities. 8 facility clusters were identified and strongly aligned with DPRs (p < 0.001). Inter-DRP transports tended to occur between neighboring DPRs and between facilities belonging to the same healthcare system (p < 0.001).
Network analysis reveals patterns of maternal transports among obstetric facilities. States can improve the design of perinatal regionalization systems by formalizing existing partnership among obstetric facilities.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Examining Perinatal Regionalization in Practice: A Network Analysis of Maternal Transport in Georgia
- Creators
- Jingyu Li - Georgia Institute of TechnologyStephanie M. Radke - University of IowaLauren N. Steimle - Georgia Institute of Technology
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- medRxiv
- Edition
- 1.1
- DOI
- 10.1101/2025.02.14.25322280
- PMID
- 40034757
- PMCID
- PMC11875245
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
- Number of pages
- 31
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 02/18/2025
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Record Identifier
- 9984798356802771
Metrics
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