Perinatal outcomes among multiracial women compared to both Monoracial Majority and Minority groups in a Medicaid sample: 2017–2019

TL;DR

This study finds that Multiracial women have higher rates of perinatal mental health issues compared to Monoracial groups, highlighting a need for targeted support.

Contribution

The study is the first to compare perinatal mental health outcomes specifically among Multiracial women versus Monoracial Majority and Minority groups using Medicaid data.

Findings

Multiracial women had higher rates of mental health conditions compared to Monoracial Minority women.

Multiracial women were 45% more likely to have perinatal depression than Monoracial Minority women.

Multiracial women showed higher rates of suicidal ideation compared to both Monoracial groups.

Abstract

This study aims to explore prevalence of perinatal mental health conditions among Multiracial women in the United States compared to Monoracial Minority and Monoracial Majority women.

We analyzed Medicaid claims data from 2016–2020 for 1,863,150 delivering women across 30 states, focusing on those with continuous enrollment from nine months prior to delivery to three months postpartum. We categorized women as Multiracial (two or more races), Monoracial Majority, Monoracial Minority, and Hispanic.

Multiracial women compared to Monoracial Minority women demonstrated higher rates of mental health conditions. Multiracial women were 16% less likely than Monoracial Majority (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.79–0.89) and 45% more likely than Monoracial Minority (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.34–1.56) to have a perinatal depression diagnosis. Multiracial women had higher suicidal ideation diagnoses compared to both Monoracial Minority and Monoracial Majority women.

The findings highlight disparities in perinatal mental health conditions among Multiracial female Medicaid beneficiaries.

Researchers and policymakers should work further to address the unique mental health needs of perinatal Multiracial women, with an emphasis on addressing suicidal ideation.

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