Risk Watch (June '25)
Editor’s Note
The June 2025 issue of Risk Watch includes articles on perinatal and neonatal care settings.
A Chantal et al. reports on a Canada-wide study of over 2.8 million hospital births (2013–2022) found that the Neonatal Adverse Outcome Indicator (NAOI), a measure of newborn complications and interventions, was present in 7.6% of births, increased over time. Hulchafo et al. examine race and ethnicity with stigmatizing and positive language documentation from the clinical notes of hospital birth admissions in the US. Skinner et al. used a mixed methods approach to investigate factors that may negatively impact safety and team functionality within Obstetrics. Bolotin et al. conducted a cross-sectional study in Ontario and found that maternal measles antibodies in infants decline rapidly—from about 70% coverage at birth to none by four months—indicating that infants are likely susceptible to measles for most of their first year and highlighting the necessity for high community vaccination levels. Khalil et al. summarize the epidemiology of measles infection, factors associated with the current measles outbreaks, as well as the risks and outcomes of measles in pregnancy, highlighting the importance of early liaison with local health protection teams for risk assessment, diagnosis and management of suspected measles in pregnancy. Swenson et al. investigated labour and delivery Colorado nurses' attitudes and behaviours toward pregnant patients with substance use disorders or mental health concerns.
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Neonatal Adverse Outcomes Among Hospital Livebirths in Canada: A National Retrospective Study
Article summarizing findings of ten year Canadian retrospective review of neonatal adverse outcome indicator (NAOI).
Nelson CRM, Ray JG, Auger N, Moore AM, Little J, Murphy PA, Van den Hof M, Shah PS; Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System, Public Health Agency of Canada. Neonatal Adverse Outcomes among Hospital Livebirths in Canada: A National Retrospective Study. Neonatology. 2025;122(1):114-121. doi: 10.1159/000540559. Epub 2024 Aug 22. PMID: 39173602; PMCID: PMC11809516.
Stigmatizing and Positive Language in Birth Clinical Notes Associated With Race and Ethnicity
Article examining race and ethnicity with stigmatizing and positive language documentation from the clinical notes of hospital birth admissions in the US.
Hulchafo II, Scroggins JK, Harkins SE, Moen H, Tadiello M, Cato K, Davoudi A, Goffman D, Aubey JJ, Green C, Topaz M, Barcelona V. Stigmatizing and Positive Language in Birth Clinical Notes Associated With Race and Ethnicity. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 May 1;8(5):e259599. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9599. PMID: 40358949; PMCID: PMC12076172.
Understanding Factors Influencing Safety and Team Functionality at Operative Vaginal Birth Through Multidisciplinary Perspectives: A Mixed Methods Study
Research using a mixed methods approach to investigate factors that may negatively impact safety and team functionality within Obstetrics.
Skinner SM, Kippen E, Rolnik DL, Neil P, Hodges RJ, Murry N, Mol BW, Kumar A. Understanding factors influencing safety and team functionality at operative vaginal birth through multidisciplinary perspectives: a mixed methods study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Jan 21;25(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s12884-024-07075-w. PMID: 39838294; PMCID: PMC11753089.
Pregnant Women and Measles: We Need to be Vigilant During Outbreaks
Article summarizing the epidemiology of measles infection, factors associated with the current measles outbreaks, as well as the risks and outcomes of measles in pregnancy.
Khalil A, Samara A, Campbell C, Ladhani SN. Pregnant women and measles: we need to be vigilant during outbreaks. EClinicalMedicine. 2024 Apr 16;72:102594. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102594. PMID: 38666235; PMCID: PMC11043813.
Investigating the Measles Susceptibility Gap in Ontario Infants
Canadian study evaluating prevalence of measles susceptibility of infants in Ontario.
Bolotin S, Wright J, McLachlan E, Severini A, Hatchette T, Crowcroft N, Deeks S, Arnold C, Osman S, Brown K, Halperin S, Campigotto A, Richardson S, Science M. Investigating the measles susceptibility gap in Ontario infants. Vaccine. 2025 Apr 30;54:126908. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126908. Epub 2025 Mar 5. PMID: 40048933.
Labor and Delivery Nurses' Perceptions of Their Colleagues' Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Pregnant Patients with Substance Use
US article on labour and delivery nurses' attitudes and behaviours toward pregnant patients with substance use disorders or mental health concerns.
Swenson K, Johnson A, Schulz G, Breen K. Labor and Delivery Nurses' Perceptions of Their Colleagues' Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Pregnant Patients with Substance Use. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2025 May-Jun 01;50(3):141-150. doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000001091. Epub 2025 Apr 29. PMID: 40029198.