Racial and ethnic disparities in short interval pregnancy following delivery in Catholic vs non-Catholic hospitals among California Medicaid enrollees

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the impact of Catholic hospital delivery on short interval pregnancy in the California 2010-2014 Medicaid population.

Study design: We used Cox regression to estimate the association between hospital affiliation and short interval pregnancy, adjusting for patient factors.

Results: Catholic hospital delivery had increased the risk of pregnancy within 6 months for Black (hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.06, 1.17) and Hispanic (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05, 1.09) but not for White women (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.98, 1.05).

Conclusions: Among California women with Medicaid, Catholic hospital delivery was associated with short interval pregnancy only among women of color.

Keywords: Catholic hospitals; Health disparity; Health policy; Race; Reproductive care; Short interval pregnancy.