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Implicit and Explicit Weight Bias among Midwives: Variations Across Demographic Characteristics
Heather M Bradford1,2, Rebecca M Puhl3, Julia C Phillippi2
1Georgetown University School of Nursing, Washington, District of Columbia.
Journal of Midwifery & Women'S Health
|March 15, 2024
Summary
Weight bias in midwives is linked to lower body mass index (BMI) and older age. Black midwives showed less explicit bias than White midwives, highlighting demographic variations in healthcare provider bias.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Disparities
- Medical Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Weight bias is prevalent in healthcare settings.
- Limited quantitative data exists on weight bias among perinatal care providers.
- Demographic variations in weight bias among midwives are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine weight bias among American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) certified midwives.
- To investigate variations in weight bias based on age, years since certification, BMI, race, ethnicity, and geographic region.
- To quantify implicit and explicit weight bias in a national sample of midwives.
Main Methods:
- Online survey distributed via email listservs, social media, and professional networks.
- Assessment of implicit weight bias using the Implicit Association Test.
- Measurement of explicit weight bias using the Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire (AFA), Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), and Preference for Thin People (PTP) measure.
Main Results:
- 2106 midwives participated, identifying as Black or White across 4 US regions.
- Lower BMI and younger age correlated with higher implicit and explicit weight bias.
- Age and BMI were significant predictors after adjustments; Black midwives showed lower explicit bias on some measures.
- Implicit bias varied by age and years since certification, with lower levels in younger/less experienced midwives.
Conclusions:
- This is the first quantitative study on demographic variations in midwife weight bias.
- Further research with diverse samples is necessary.
- Investigating the impact of weight bias on clinical decision-making and care quality is warranted.
Keywords:
body mass indexhealth caremidwiferyobesitypregnancyweight biasweight prejudiceweight stigmaweight‐based discriminationMore Related Videos
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