Effects of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation on postpartum
haemorrhage in high-income countries: A systematic review and
meta-analysis
Abstract
Abstract Background Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a leading
cause of mortality and morbidity globally. While studies have revealed
disparities in maternal and fetal outcomes, disparities in PPH risk
within diverse populations remains understudied. Objectives To
quantify the association between maternal race, ethnicity, deprivation
and the risk of PPH in High Income Countries (HIC’s). Search strategy
A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and Google Scholar from
inception to 20 th August 2024. Selection criteria
Observational and experimental studies from HICs that reported the
outcome of PPH, in at least two racial, ethnic or socioeconomic groups.
Data collection and analysis Two reviewers performed independent data
extraction. Random-effects model was used to estimate risk. Subgroup
analysis was performed by geographical region and time period. Main
results 79 studies with 169,579,388 women were included. Women from an
ethnic minority background had an increased risk of PPH, compared to
White women. This effect was seen across Black women (OR 1.16, 95% CI
1.09,1.23), Asian women (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.27, 1.39), Hispanic women
(OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.12, 1.29), and women from the minority ethnic group
within a given study (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.03,1.24). Eight studies
reporting PPH per socioeconomic group reported increased risk of PPH for
those living in socioeconomic deprivation. Conclusions Women from an
ethnic minority background or exposed to socioeconomic deprivation had
an increased risk of PPH in high income settings. Standardisation of
data collection on ethnicity, race and socioeconomic status is crucial
for future research to accurately quantify and address these
disparities. Funding: There was no funding source for this
study. Keywords: Maternal health disparities, ethnicity, race,
socioeconomic deprivation, postpartum haemorrhage