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Updated: Nov 8, 2025

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
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Unequal care: Racial/ethnic disparities in neonatal intensive care delivery

Dhurjati Ravi1, Alexandra Iacob2, Jochen Profit1

  • 1Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Seminars in Perinatology
|April 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Racial disparities in neonatal intensive care persist despite advances. Improving both clinical and family-centered care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is crucial for better outcomes in minority preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Health Disparities
  • Healthcare Quality

Background:

  • Significant racial and ethnic disparities exist in outcomes for preterm newborns despite advances in neonatal intensive care.
  • Factors contributing to these disparities include systemic racism and structural disadvantages, alongside differential quality of care within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
  • Minority infants are disproportionately cared for in lower-quality NICUs and may receive suboptimal care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify mechanisms leading to lower quality care for minority preterm infants.
  • To highlight modifiable sources of disparity within NICU care.
  • To inform strategies for eliminating disparities in neonatal care and outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article, synthesizing existing research on neonatal care disparities.
  • Analysis focuses on identifying key factors influencing the quality of care received by minority infants.
  • The review examines both technical (clinical) and relational (family engagement) aspects of care.

Main Results:

  • Differential quality of care in NICUs is a significant and modifiable source of disparity.
  • Improvements in technical and relational care processes are critical for enhancing outcomes.
  • Addressing inequities in NICU care is essential for achieving equitable outcomes for all preterm infants.

Conclusions:

  • Eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in neonatal outcomes requires addressing inequities in NICU care quality.
  • Enhancing both clinical interventions and family-centered support is vital.
  • Targeted improvements in care processes can mitigate the impact of systemic disadvantages on minority infants.

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