Study: Nurse diversity may reduce risk of maternal health issues

Editor’s Note

A study from Columbia University researchers finds that hiring a more diverse nurse workforce may assist in combating “racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes” and reduce risk of maternal health issues, NBC News July 20 reports.

According to the study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology on July 10, states with the highest nurse diversity reported “fewer health complications for moms during childbirth, including eclampsia, blood transfusion, hysterectomy, and intense care unit admission.” The findings showed a reduction in severe adverse maternal outcomes when giving birth in states with the highest nurse diversity; these outcomes decreased by 50% for Asian and Pacific Islander mothers, 32% for white mothers, 31% for Latina mothers, and 20% for Black mothers.

"The more racially and ethnically diverse the nurse workforce is, the better maternal health outcomes are," said Guohua Li, professor of epidemiology and anesthesiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and one of the study's authors. "This finding holds up for white mothers as well as for mothers of color.” 

Li suggested medical centers implement a more diverse workforce to reduce maternal health disparities and strengthen the US health system.