United States State-Level Variation in the Use of Neuraxial Analgesia During Labor for Pregnant Women.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Neuraxial labor analgesia is recognized as the most effective method of providing pain relief during labor. Little is known about variation in the rates of neuraxial analgesia across US states. Identifying the presence and extent of variation may provide insights into practice variation and may indicate where access to neuraxial analgesia is inadequate.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that variation exists in neuraxial labor analgesia use among US states.

Design, setting, and participants

Retrospective, population-based, cross-sectional analysis using US birth certificate data. Participants were 2 625 950 women who underwent labor in 2015.

Main outcomes and measures

State-specific prevalence of neuraxial analgesia per 100 women who underwent labor a

SUBMITTER: Butwick AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6324365 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature