Differences in childbirth care and outcomes among Asian and Pacific Islander families

Disparities in Processes and Outcomes of Care Across Asian/Pacific Islander Populations at Childbirth

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-11139505

Looking at why mothers and newborns from Asian and Pacific Islander backgrounds sometimes receive different care or have different outcomes during hospital births.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11139505 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you are an Asian American or Pacific Islander mother or had a newborn, this project looks at whether care and outcomes during the birth hospitalization differ across AAPI subgroups. Researchers analyze hospital records linked to neighborhood and sociodemographic data and intentionally separate AAPI subgroups instead of combining them. They compare key quality measures for mothers, low-risk newborns, and very low birth weight infants and use statistical methods that account for differences between hospitals and communities. The aim is to identify where avoidable harms occur so hospitals and policymakers can target improvements.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This work focuses on Asian American and Pacific Islander mothers and their newborns, especially those who gave birth in hospitals included in the U.S. dataset (with strong representation from California).

Not a fit: People without an AAPI background or whose births occurred outside the hospitals/time periods included in the data are less likely to see direct benefit from this specific project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help reduce avoidable deaths and complications by revealing where care differs and guiding targeted improvements for AAPI mothers and infants.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown racial disparities in perinatal care but often aggregates AAPI groups; this disaggregated, multilevel approach is relatively novel for these populations.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.