Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) people are at higher risk than their non-DHH counterparts of experiencing adverse birth outcomes. There is a lack of research focusing on social, linguistic, and medical factors related to being DHH which may identify groups of DHH people who experience more inequity.
OBJECTIVE: Examine difference in prevalence of cesarean and adverse birth outcomes among diverse sub-groups of DHH people.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of DHH birthing people in the U.S. who gave birth within the past 10 years. The sample was predominantly white, college educated, and married. We assessed cesarean birth and three adverse birth outcomes: preterm birth, low birthweight, and NICU admission post-delivery. DHH-specific variables were genetic etiology of hearing loss, preferred language (i.e., American Sign Language, English, or bilingual), severity of hearing loss, age of onset of hearing loss, and self-reported quality of perinatal care communication. We estimated prevalence, 95 % confidence intervals, and unadjusted prevalence ratios.
RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of our sample reported a cesarean birth. Overall, there were no significant differences in prevalence across the outcome variables with respect to preferred language, genetic etiology, severity, and age of onset. Poorer perinatal care communication quality was associated with higher prevalence of preterm birth (PR = 2.37) and NICU admission (PR = 1.91).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study found no evidence supporting differences in obstetric outcomes among DHH birthing people across medical factors related to deafness. Findings support the important role of communication access for DHH people in healthcare environments.
OBJECTIVE: Examine difference in prevalence of cesarean and adverse birth outcomes among diverse sub-groups of DHH people.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of DHH birthing people in the U.S. who gave birth within the past 10 years. The sample was predominantly white, college educated, and married. We assessed cesarean birth and three adverse birth outcomes: preterm birth, low birthweight, and NICU admission post-delivery. DHH-specific variables were genetic etiology of hearing loss, preferred language (i.e., American Sign Language, English, or bilingual), severity of hearing loss, age of onset of hearing loss, and self-reported quality of perinatal care communication. We estimated prevalence, 95 % confidence intervals, and unadjusted prevalence ratios.
RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of our sample reported a cesarean birth. Overall, there were no significant differences in prevalence across the outcome variables with respect to preferred language, genetic etiology, severity, and age of onset. Poorer perinatal care communication quality was associated with higher prevalence of preterm birth (PR = 2.37) and NICU admission (PR = 1.91).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study found no evidence supporting differences in obstetric outcomes among DHH birthing people across medical factors related to deafness. Findings support the important role of communication access for DHH people in healthcare environments.
摘要：
背景：聋人和听力困难（DHH）的人比非DHH的人有更高的风险经历不良的出生结局。缺乏关注社会的研究，语言学，和与DHH相关的医疗因素可能会识别出经历更多不平等的DHH人群。
目的：检查不同DHH患者亚组的剖宫产率和不良分娩结局的差异。
方法：我们对美国DHH出生者进行了横断面调查，这些人在过去10年内分娩。样本主要是白色的,受过大学教育,并且结婚了.我们评估了剖宫产和三种不良分娩结局：早产，低出生体重,分娩后入院。DHH特异性变量是听力损失的遗传病因，首选语言(即，美国手语,英语,或双语)，听力损失的严重程度，听力损失的发病年龄,和自我报告的围产期保健沟通质量。我们估计了患病率,95%置信区间,和未调整的患病率。
结果：我们的样本中有31%报告了剖宫产。总的来说,关于首选语言，结果变量之间的患病率没有显着差异，遗传病因，严重程度,和发病年龄。较差的围产期护理沟通质量与较高的早产患病率（PR=2.37）和NICU住院率（PR=1.91）相关。
结论：我们的研究发现没有证据支持DHH分娩者在与耳聋相关的医学因素之间的产科结局差异。研究结果支持DHH人员在医疗保健环境中的通信访问的重要作用。
目的：检查不同DHH患者亚组的剖宫产率和不良分娩结局的差异。
方法：我们对美国DHH出生者进行了横断面调查，这些人在过去10年内分娩。样本主要是白色的,受过大学教育,并且结婚了.我们评估了剖宫产和三种不良分娩结局：早产，低出生体重,分娩后入院。DHH特异性变量是听力损失的遗传病因，首选语言(即，美国手语,英语,或双语)，听力损失的严重程度，听力损失的发病年龄,和自我报告的围产期保健沟通质量。我们估计了患病率,95%置信区间,和未调整的患病率。
结果：我们的样本中有31%报告了剖宫产。总的来说,关于首选语言，结果变量之间的患病率没有显着差异，遗传病因，严重程度,和发病年龄。较差的围产期护理沟通质量与较高的早产患病率（PR=2.37）和NICU住院率（PR=1.91）相关。
结论：我们的研究发现没有证据支持DHH分娩者在与耳聋相关的医学因素之间的产科结局差异。研究结果支持DHH人员在医疗保健环境中的通信访问的重要作用。
