Factors Associated With Early Maternal Postpartum Discharge From the Hospital
Lewis H. Margolis, MD, MPH;
Milton Kotelchuck, PhD, MPH;
Hsing-Yi Chang, MPH
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(5):466-472.
Abstract
Objective
To examine if mothers discharged from the hospital after 1 night's stay or less (early discharge) differ from those discharged from the hospital after 2 or 3 nights' stay (regular discharge) in demographic, economic, behavioral, health status, and health services risk factors associated with maternal and infant well-being.
Design
Bivariate and logistic comparisons of women discharged from the hospital early or after a regular hospitalization as reported in the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.
Participants
Postpartum women.
Main Outcome Measure
Postpartum discharge from the hospital after 1 night's stay or less in the hospital.
Results
Early discharge from the hospital occurred for 12.3% of 3865366 women. Logistic regression revealed 8 factors that were associated with early discharge from the hospital: less than a high school education, aged older than 35 years, inadequate prenatal care, lack of private insurance or receipt of Medicaid for delivery, giving birth in the western United States, plans to breast-feed, and care by midwives. Two factors were associated with an increased likelihood of a regular discharge from the hospital: report of a hospitalization during pregnancy and giving birth in the Midwest or Northeast.
Conclusions
Significant numbers of mothers discharged from the hospital early manifested health and social risk factors associated with poor health outcomes. Economic factors seemed an important motivation for early discharge from the hospital, as did inadequate use of health services. Since brief hospitalization is prevalent, clinicians and administrators must assure that the objectives of medical contact during childbirth are met, if not through hospitalization, then through other mechanisms.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:466-472
Author Affiliations
The Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
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