Neonatal mortality and disparities within the military health system

Obstetrical health care inequities in a universally insured health care system

“…However, a recent publication on neonatal mortality in the MHS showed persistent racial disparities, with a 2-fold higher neonatal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black neonates compared with White neonates despite an overall lower neonatal mortality rate in the MHS. 18 This difference was likely related to an overall higher rate of preterm birth in non-Hispanic Black neonates in this cohort. 18 Another limitation is that the NPIC database only includes individuals who actually received care in the MHS, and does not include patients who had coverage but might have been unable to obtain care in the system.…”

“… 18 This difference was likely related to an overall higher rate of preterm birth in non-Hispanic Black neonates in this cohort. 18 Another limitation is that the NPIC database only includes individuals who actually received care in the MHS, and does not include patients who had coverage but might have been unable to obtain care in the system. Another limitation was that approximately one-third of the self-identified race data were classified as unknown (5%) or other (28%), and this proportion varied among facilities.…”