Study Protocol: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Implementation of Doula Care to Address Racial Health Equity in Six State Medicaid Programs
08/08/2024
In this study, researchers describe the protocol for a mixed-methods study to understand how variation in implementation of doula programs in Medicaid may affect racial equity in pregnancy and postpartum health. Primary study outcomes include severe maternal morbidity, person-reported measures of respectful obstetric care, and receipt of evidence-based care for chronic conditions that are the primary causes of postpartum mortality (cardiovascular, mental health, and substance use conditions). Our research team includes doulas, university-based investigators, and Medicaid participants from six sites (Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia) in the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN).
Hilltop Senior Data Scientist Leigh Goetschius, PhD, was a coauthor of this article published in Health Research Policy and Systems.