Disparities in access to reproductive genetic services associated with geographic location of residence and maternal race and ethnicity

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the association between geographic location of residence and use of aneuploidy screening or prenatal genetic counseling and how it is modified by maternal race and ethnicity.

Methods

Retrospective cohort of individuals at a tertiary care center between 2017-2019. County of residence was classified as rural or metropolitan based in US Office of Management and Budget 2019 definitions. Maternal race and ethnicity were self-identified. Our composite outcome was defined as use of aneuploidy screening or genetic counseling visit. The composite outcome was compared by geographic location and ethnicity. Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between geographic location and the composite outcome.

Results

A total of 8774 pregnancies were included. Of these, 4770 (54%) had genetic screening, and 3781 (43%) had at least 1 genetic counseling visit. Rural patients were significantly less likely to have the composite outcome compared with metropolitan peers (37.1% vs 47.2%, P < .001). In addition, we identified differences in the composite outcome between White rural patients and LatinX rural patients (37.7% vs 35.6%, P < .001) and between Asian rural patients and LatinX and Black rural patients (41.0% vs 35.6%, P < .001; 41.0% vs 36.8%, P < .001). Logistic regression demonstrated that rural patients were significantly less likely to have the composite outcome compared with metropolitan peers, after adjusting for LatinX ethnicity and gestational age at first prenatal visit (OR 0.72, [0.55, 0.95], P = .002).

Conclusion

Rural, minority patients were significantly less likely to receive reproductive genetic services compared with metropolitan peers extending our knowledge of disparities in maternity care.