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This is a Case-Control Study study.

December 4, 2025Obstetric Anesthesia Digest0 citations

Investigating Disparity in Labor Epidural Analgesia Management in Black Versus White Women: A Retrospective Case-control Study (2018-2022)

Key Points

Disparities in maternal outcomes were linked to differences in management of labor epidural analgesia.
Black women experienced higher rates of cesarean delivery compared to White women due to inadequate pain control.
Assessment of epidural catheter management was crucial for understanding racial disparities in labor.
Findings highlight the need for improved analgesia management in diverse populations.

Abstract

( Int J Obstet Anesth . 2025;61:104327. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2024.104327) Labor epidural analgesia (LEA) is widely recognized as the most effective form of pain relief during labor and is used by the majority of laboring women in the United States. However, previous research has shown that women of color are less likely to receive neuraxial analgesia, contributing to poorer labor pain control and higher rates of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery (CD), which carries additional risks. The aim of this study was to determine if racial disparities exist in the time it takes to replace a nonfunctional labor epidural catheter, which is critical for pain management and maternal outcomes.

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