Fat Bias & Cesarean Rates: Community vs Hospital Birth for Larger-Bodied People | JEPS Seminar

Dr. Melissa Cheyney (Oregon State University, Clinical Medical Anthropology) presents new research on how body size and birth setting shape cesarean rates. Using propensity-score matched data from nearly 60,000 pregnancies across hospital and community midwifery settings, findings show elevated BMI increases cesarean odds in all settings — but community birth is associated with significantly lower overall cesarean rates for both larger-bodied and normal-weight individuals, without an increase in perinatal death. Discussion covers maternity care policy implications and how integrating community birth options could reduce unnecessary cesareans for lower-risk pregnant people. 🔗 JEPS Hub: https://www.birthplacelab.org/jeps/ | Birth Place Lab, University of British Columbia | Justice and Equity in Perinatal Services Seminar Series