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Does adopting a prenatal substance use protocol reduce racial disparities in CPS reporting related to maternal drug use? A California case study

Journal of Perinatology volume 35, pages 146–150 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

This study examined whether adopting a standardized prenatal substance use protocol (protocol) in a hospital labor and delivery unit reduced racial disparities in reporting to child protective services (CPS) related to maternal drug use during pregnancy.

Study design:

This study used an interrupted time series design with a non-equivalent control. One hospital adopted a protocol and another hospital group serving a similar geographic population did not change protocols. Data on CPS reporting disparities from these hospitals over 3.5 years were analyzed using segmented regression.

Result:

In the hospital that adopted the protocol, almost five times more black than white newborns were reported during the study period. Adopting the protocol was not associated with reduced disparities.

Conclusion:

Adopting a protocol cannot be assumed to reduce CPS reporting disparities. Efforts to encourage hospitals to adopt protocols as a strategy to reduce disparities may be misguided. Other strategies to reduce disparities are needed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the University of California, San Francisco’s Academic Senate Committee on Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA

    S C M Roberts

  2. Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA, USA

    E Zahnd

  3. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    C Sufrin

  4. Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA, USA

    M A Armstrong

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  1. S C M Roberts
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  2. E Zahnd
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  4. M A Armstrong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S C M Roberts.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Roberts, S., Zahnd, E., Sufrin, C. et al. Does adopting a prenatal substance use protocol reduce racial disparities in CPS reporting related to maternal drug use? A California case study. J Perinatol 35, 146–150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.168

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.168

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