Motherhood and Health: Measuring Disparities of Maternal Health Outcomes of Service Members
Abstract
Motherhood goes unrivaled among many life experiences; yet it also can disrupt almost everything in a womans lifeincluding her physical health. Black women, in particular, have worse maternal health outcomes than White, non-Hispanic women in the civilian population. This project compares birth outcomes among civilian and military populations to determine whether maternal health disparities disappear in a universally insured sample of women under TRICARE. The military tracks detailed health data over time and provides purportedly equal access to care to its active duty members, regardless of race/ethnicity or level of education. If a federally funded healthcare system reducesor eliminatesmaternal health inequality, it provides a path forward for reducing inequality in the civilian health sector. Results indicate that gaps are smaller in some, but not all, outcomes in the universally insured population. Further studies on pre-military experiences and health exposures may explain the persistent gaps in maternal health disparities among military service women.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1114253
Entities
People
- Porsha Lorick
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School