Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
7-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
7-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
BACKGROUND
The opioid crisis remains a significant public health challenge in the United States, with opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy posing serious health risks for both mom and baby. In Georgia, Black individuals face disproportionately high opioid-related mortality rates, exacerbated by systemic inequities in healthcare access, pain management, and maternal health services. Rural communities experience additional barriers, including limited healthcare infrastructure and socioeconomic constraints. Despite existing research on opioid use disorder in pregnancy, limited studies have examined how racial and geographic factors uniquely intersect to impact maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Georgia. Understanding these intersections is crucial to developing equitable interventions.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine racial and geographic disparities in OUD during pregnancy in Georgia by examining existing literature on opioid-related health outcomes, systemic inequities, and social determinants of health. The findings will aid in the development of strategies needed to improve maternal and neonatal health while addressing these disparities.
METHODS
A systematic literature review will be conducted using peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and publicly available datasets from sources such as PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and the U.S. Census Bureau. A thematic analysis will be employed to identify key themes, including racial disparities in opioid misuse and mortality, rural-urban differences in opioid-related health outcomes, and the impact of social determinants of health on opioid use in Georgia. Findings will be synthesized to highlight gaps in existing research and potential policy implications.
RESULTS & CONCLUSION
This project is currently in progress. Preliminary findings will be analyzed to identify actionable strategies for reducing disparities in maternal and neonatal health outcomes. These insights will contribute to policy recommendations and future interventions targeting opioid use disorder in pregnancy. Final conclusions will be drawn upon the completion of the review, with an emphasis on translating findings into equitable and effective healthcare strategies.
Embargo Period
12-4-2026
Racial and geographic disparities in opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy in Georgia: A systematic review
Moultrie, GA
BACKGROUND
The opioid crisis remains a significant public health challenge in the United States, with opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy posing serious health risks for both mom and baby. In Georgia, Black individuals face disproportionately high opioid-related mortality rates, exacerbated by systemic inequities in healthcare access, pain management, and maternal health services. Rural communities experience additional barriers, including limited healthcare infrastructure and socioeconomic constraints. Despite existing research on opioid use disorder in pregnancy, limited studies have examined how racial and geographic factors uniquely intersect to impact maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Georgia. Understanding these intersections is crucial to developing equitable interventions.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine racial and geographic disparities in OUD during pregnancy in Georgia by examining existing literature on opioid-related health outcomes, systemic inequities, and social determinants of health. The findings will aid in the development of strategies needed to improve maternal and neonatal health while addressing these disparities.
METHODS
A systematic literature review will be conducted using peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and publicly available datasets from sources such as PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and the U.S. Census Bureau. A thematic analysis will be employed to identify key themes, including racial disparities in opioid misuse and mortality, rural-urban differences in opioid-related health outcomes, and the impact of social determinants of health on opioid use in Georgia. Findings will be synthesized to highlight gaps in existing research and potential policy implications.
RESULTS & CONCLUSION
This project is currently in progress. Preliminary findings will be analyzed to identify actionable strategies for reducing disparities in maternal and neonatal health outcomes. These insights will contribute to policy recommendations and future interventions targeting opioid use disorder in pregnancy. Final conclusions will be drawn upon the completion of the review, with an emphasis on translating findings into equitable and effective healthcare strategies.