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CDC LOCATe: discrepancies between self-reported level of maternal care and LOCATe-assessed level of maternal care among 463 birth facilities

Journal of Perinatology volume 42, pages 589–594 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

Describe sources of discrepancy between self-assessed LoMC (level of maternal care) and CDC LOCATe®-assessed (Levels of Care Assessment Tool) LoMC.

Study design

CDC LOCATe® was implemented at 480 facilities in 13 jurisdictions, including states, territories, perinatal regions, and hospital systems, in the U.S. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted to compare facilities’ self-reported LoMC and LOCATe®-assessed LoMC.

Result

Among 418 facilities that self-reported an LoMC, 41.4% self-reported a higher LoMC than their LOCATe®-assessed LoMC. Among facilities with discrepancies, the most common elements lacking to meet self-reported LoMC included availability of maternal-fetal medicine (27.7%), obstetric-specializing anesthesiologist (16.2%), and obstetric ultrasound services (12.1%).

Conclusion

Two in five facilities self-report a LoMC higher than their LOCATe®-assessed LoMC, indicating discrepancies between perceived maternal care capabilities and those recommended in current LoMC guidelines. Results highlight an opportunity for states to engage with facilities, health systems, and other stakeholders about LoMC and collaborate to strengthen systems for improving maternal care delivery.

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Fig. 1: Reason for Discrepancy among Facilities where Self-assessed Level of Maternal Care (LoMC) was Higher than LOCATe-assessed LoMC.

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Acknowledgements

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We want to thank the implementing agencies responsible for LOCATe® in each jurisdiction that provided CDC LOCATe® data included in this analysis. Any published findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the official position of the jurisdictions that participated in LOCATe®. This project was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Sabrina A. Madni, Alexander C. Ewing, Jennifer L. Beauregard, Mary D. Brantley & David A. Goodman

  2. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Sabrina A. Madni

  3. U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, MD, USA

    Jennifer L. Beauregard

  4. University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    M. Kathryn Menard

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  1. Sabrina A. Madni
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  2. Alexander C. Ewing
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  3. Jennifer L. Beauregard
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  4. Mary D. Brantley
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  5. M. Kathryn Menard
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  6. David A. Goodman
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Contributions

SM conceptualized and designed the work; acquired, analyzed, and interpreted the data; and drafted the manuscript. JB and MM conceptualized and designed the work and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. AE, MB, and DG conceptualized and designed the work; acquired the data; and revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content.

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Correspondence to Jennifer L. Beauregard.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Madni, S.A., Ewing, A.C., Beauregard, J.L. et al. CDC LOCATe: discrepancies between self-reported level of maternal care and LOCATe-assessed level of maternal care among 463 birth facilities. J Perinatol 42, 589–594 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01268-3

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