Obstetrics & Gynecology - Green Journal

New in O&G Open: The Application of Maternal Death Surveillance and Review in Acute Humanitarian Responses. Read for FREE at https://buff.ly/omRjwxE

"Forced displacement has profound detrimental consequences on reproductive health, including maternal morbidity and mortality. Pregnant newcomers are a particularly high-risk group and are susceptible to adverse reproductive health outcomes due to the interplay of migration, sexual violence, trauma, disrupted care, racism, and xenophobia. Newcomers have higher rates of preventable pregnancy-related risk factors, such as delayed prenatal care, malnutrition, and exposure to infectious diseases, in addition to structural, socioeconomic, language, and cultural barriers to accessing comprehensive pregnancy and abortion care. Perinatal mental health conditions are more prevalent among newcomers (particularly refugees and asylees), but they face greater barriers to accessing mental health care. In this perspective piece, we share two clinical cases that demonstrate how—at the intersection of reproductive justice and migrant justice—dismantling inequities in newcomer reproductive health requires interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and linguistically accessible care. We present best practices from an interdisciplinary model for newcomer pregnancy care. We end with a call to action for improving birth outcomes and experiences for newcomer patients."

Read the full perspective at: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2026/06000/centering_reproductive_and_migrant_justice_.5.aspx

New items available ahead of print, including, "Uterine Leiomyomas Across the Menopausal Transition." Read the latest at https://buff.ly/MldMq6z

"The reasons CVD is the leading contributor to maternal mortality are multifaceted; therefore, the methods to improve outcomes are also multidimensional. However, emphasizing the importance of preconception counseling, standardization of care, ongoing postpartum remote monitoring, and extending surveillance beyond the routine 6-week period are potentially effective interventions to combat this maternal health crisis."

Read the review at: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2026/06000/cardiovascular_related_maternal_mortality.8.aspx

Routine, compassionate screening for intimate partner violence during pregnancy
uncovers invisible, hidden danger and can change the trajectory of women’s lives.

Read the perspective "Her Story Matters" in the Special Issue on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality at: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2026/06000/her_story_matters.22.aspx

"The 2022 Alabama maternal mortality rate was 38.6 per 100,000 live births, the third highest in the United States. Efforts to reduce maternal mortality have included the development and maintenance of national and state-level Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs), multidisciplinary partnerships of practitioners, policy makers, public servants, and academics.

After the Alabama MMRC was launched in 2018, it was discovered that only 41.9% of decedents underwent autopsy; in 19.4% of deaths, the MMRC was unable to determine pregnancy relatedness. This led the Alabama MMRC to make formal recommendations to increase access to autopsies for maternal deaths. Working together, state and community partners advocated for funding to develop and implement a statewide autopsy program for maternal deaths. The Alabama Maternal Autopsy Program was launched in 2023 and ensures access to autopsy services for all deaths occurring during pregnancy or up to 365 days after pregnancy.

This article outlines the process used to improve diagnostic accuracy through standardization and improved access to autopsy for maternal deaths occurring during pregnancy or up to 365 days after pregnancy."

Read it here: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2026/06000/development_and_implementation_of_a_statewide.2.aspx

"Persistent inequities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM)and maternal mortality in the United States have received national attention over the past decade. This scoping review aimed to outline evidence-based interventions to decrease these inequities. We adapted a socioecological framework of SMM and maternal mortality to integrate three equity approaches: 1) interventions across subpopulations, 2) analytic strategies, such as sub-analyses or reporting outcomes among priority groups, and 3) assessing risk factors unique to priority groups. We conducted a structured search of peer-reviewed medical databases and qualitatively assessed the findings. We included studies of SMM or its components, mortality, and postpartum rehospitalization that used an equity approach and focused on groups disproportionately affected by maternal mortality, such as Black, Indigenous, and rural populations, and those with low income. Our findings revealed a lack of rigorous peer-reviewed interventions in many areas but identified key findings in multiple domains of our model, especially at the health system level. Although evidence is too nascent for firm conclusions on effective interventions, our review provides examples of best practices to guide future design and reporting of maternal health equity interventions."

Read the full review for FREE at: https://buff.ly/vTBHd5t

Listen to Special Issue Guest Editor Dr. Howell discuss the article with author Dr. Janevic on the Green Room podcast: https://buff.ly/5dwoblY

We are excited to welcome our 2026-2027 Betsey, Lucy, and Anarcha Editorial Mentees! Interested in the program? Visit https://buff.ly/67cOGSq to learn more.

"There is broad consensus that measuring severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is critical to improving maternal health. Despite 50 years of effort by national, international, and professional organizations, determining the ideal SMM measure remains a work in progress. Various SMM measures have been proposed and evolved to fulfill different purposes: population surveillance, hospital-level trends and comparisons, and case reviews for quality improvement. This review examines definitions, strengths, limitations and challenges in data collection for the most used SMM measures. Also discussed are proposals to expand these measures to include postpartum complications, mental health, and substance use disorders. Regardless of the challenges with definition and data collection, SMM measures are widely used and have become integral to improvement efforts at hospital, state, and national levels in the United States. We anticipate that available measures will continue to evolve to meet the needs of hospital systems and national surveillance moving forward."

To learn more, read the full Narrative Review at: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2026/06000/measuring_severe_maternal_morbidity__current.9.aspx

New in O&G Open: Evaluation and Treatment Options for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Premenopausal Patients With a History of Breast Cancer. Available for FREE at https://buff.ly/OeFvUhL