Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41612121›Full record

ArticleJournal of racial and ethnic health disparities2026

Unraveling the Interplay of Race and Geography on Maternal Mortality in the United States.

Deepti Sanku, Caleb Zimmerman, Mahreen Anwar, Payton Wolbert, Nicole Burmeister, Cade Cantu, Neehar Haryadi, Danielle Janowicz, Alexia Lucas, Beth Bailey

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Article in Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Deepti SankuCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA. sanku1d@cmich.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-8514-0392
Caleb ZimmermanCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Mahreen AnwarCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Payton WolbertCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Nicole BurmeisterCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Cade CantuCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Neehar HaryadiCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Danielle JanowiczCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Alexia LucasCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
Beth BaileyCollege of Medicine, Central Michigan University, 1280 S. East Campus Drive, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMaternal mortality in the United States disproportionately affects racial minorities and rural populations, yet limited research examines how these factors intersect to compound risks.

methodsWe conducted a systematic review of four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Scopus) from 2015 to 2023, identifying studies that analyzed maternal mortality disparities by both race and geography in the United States. Using predetermined inclusion criteria, we extracted data on study design, population characteristics, and outcomes. A descriptive synthesis was performed due to methodological heterogeneity across studies.

resultsSeven studies met inclusion criteria, drawing from national surveillance systems, state health departments, and hospital databases across diverse geographic regions. All studies documented significantly higher maternal mortality among Black women compared to White women, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.65 to 1.81. Rural areas showed pregnancy-related mortality ratios up to 60% higher than large metropolitan areas. Intersectional analyses revealed a "double disparity" pattern where racial minorities in rural or socioeconomically disadvantaged areas faced compounded risks. Black women experienced 3.4 times higher pregnancy-related mortality across all geographic settings, while the most deprived neighborhoods showed 78% higher odds of severe maternal outcomes. Insurance gaps, particularly postpartum Medicaid coverage loss, emerged as a critical contributing factor.

conclusionsThe intersection of racial minority status and rural residence creates compounded maternal mortality risks. Interventions must simultaneously address systemic racism in healthcare and expand rural obstetric services while ensuring continuous postpartum insurance coverage.

Indexed as

Geographic disparitiesHealth disparitiesIntersectionalityMaternal mortalityRural healthSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41612121

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.