Factors affecting Unplanned Out-of-hospital Births and Neonatal Outcomes at an Urban Hospital
Authors: Daichang Cathy , Chu Sidney , Nguyen Helen N , Madubuko Adaora 
Published: September 2024

Importance

Unplanned out-of-hospital births have been associated with increased maternal and neonatal complications.

Objective

To determine factors that increase unplanned out-of-hospital births incidence and examine neonatal complications.

Design

Case-control study, January 2017 to December 2022.

Setting

Single-center

Participants

Unplanned out-of-hospital births coded under Z38.1 within the hospital database. A random sample of in-hospital births from the same time period served as control. Newborns with chromosomal and congenital abnormalities, stillbirths, and non-singleton births were excluded from analyses.

Main Outcomes/Measures

Maternal demographic risk factors for unplanned out-of-hospital births and neonatal complications and morbidity.

Results

66 unplanned out-of-hospital births were compared with 72 in-hospital births. Newborns of unplanned out-of-hospital births were more likely to be affected by low birth weight (OR=5.90, 95%CI [1.87, 18.6]), prematurity (OR=4.84, 95CI% [1.67, 14.1]), and low gestational age compared to in-hospital newborns (p=4.13x10-3). Hypoglycemia (OR=38.0, 95%CI [4.95, 291]), hypothermia (OR=35.5, 95% CI [4.62, 272]), and bradycardia (OR=15.58, 95% CI [0.86, 282]) were significantly associated with unplanned out-of-hospital births. Developmental delay, APGAR scores, and neonatal mortality were not significantly associated with birth location. Black/African-American mothers were significantly more likely to have unplanned out-of-hospital births (OR=4.29, 95%CI [2.10, 8.74]). Mothers with unplanned out-of-hospital births were eight times as likely to have any substance-use-related ICD codes recorded (OR=7.98, 95%CI [2.22, 28.7]) and less likely to receive appropriate prenatal care (OR=0.09, 95%CI [0.03, 0.26]). Maternal parity, age at delivery, marital status, insurance, education, use of interpreting services, and employment status were not significantly associated with birth location.

Conclusions and Relevance

Findings suggest that mothers of Black/African-American race or substance-use-related diagnoses are more likely to have unplanned out-of-hospital births and less than appropriate prenatal care. Newborns of this group were more likely to be of low birth weight, low gestational age, and have hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and bradycardia. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions for at-risk populations to decrease the risk of preventable neonatal complications.

KEY POINTS

Question

What are the maternal factors and neonatal outcomes associated with unplanned out-of-hospital births (UOHBs) in an urban, inner-city environment?

Findings

This study revealed significant associations to UOHBs that include insufficient prenatal care, substance use disorder, and demographic variables such as race/ethnicity. Newborn outcomes such as preterm births, low birth weight, hypoglycemia, hypothermia and bradycardia were significantly associated with UOHBs.

Meaning

These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions for at-risk populations to decrease the risk of preventable neonatal complications.