Dr. Giulia Muraca is a perinatal epidemiologist and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact at McMaster University. Her research is in the area of maternal, fetal, and neonatal health and health services research, with emphasis on care quality, accessibility and equity.
Dr. Muraca received her Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of British Columbia where her doctoral research characterized maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in deliveries requiring forceps, vacuum, and cesarean delivery. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Clinical Epidemiology Unit at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where she developed epidemiologic approaches to identify optimal intrapartum intervention rates – such as the cesarean delivery rate or the rate of induction – that minimize the frequency of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes including postpartum hemorrhage, obstetric anal sphincter injury, maternal sepsis, neonatal sepsis, and birth injury.
Dr. Muraca received her Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of British Columbia where her doctoral research characterized maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in deliveries requiring forceps, vacuum, and cesarean delivery. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Clinical Epidemiology Unit at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where she developed epidemiologic approaches to identify optimal intrapartum intervention rates – such as the cesarean delivery rate or the rate of induction – that minimize the frequency of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes including postpartum hemorrhage, obstetric anal sphincter injury, maternal sepsis, neonatal sepsis, and birth injury.
Muraca Perinatal Epidemiology Research Lab (PERL)
The Muraca Perinatal Epidemiology Research Lab (PERL) is part of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University.
The PERL specializes in linking and analyzing large datasets to improve safety and well-being for mothers and babies from the preconception period, during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, and beyond throughout the mother and child's life course.
The PERL specializes in linking and analyzing large datasets to improve safety and well-being for mothers and babies from the preconception period, during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, and beyond throughout the mother and child's life course.
Recent publications
Alexandra M Palumbo, Giulia M Muraca, Anne Fuller, Charles D G Keown-Stoneman, C. Birken, Jonathon L Maguire, Laura N Anderson
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 25(1), 2025, p. 27
Brittany J Arkerson, Giulia M Muraca, N. Thakur, A. Javinani, Asma Khalil, Rohan D'Souza, Hiba J. Mustafa
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, vol. 104(1), 2025, pp. 185-93
Giulia M Muraca
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 232(2), 2025, pp. e53
Maternal mortality in the United States: The need for accurate surveillance
KS Joseph, Sarka Lisonkova, Amélie Boutin, Giulia M Muraca, Neda Razaz, Sid John, Yasser Sabr, Wee-Shian Chan, Azar Mehrabadi, Justin S Brandt
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 2025
Risk of cervical laceration in forceps vs vacuum delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Parnian Hossein-Pour, Maya Rajasingham, Giulia M Muraca
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, vol. 104(1), 2025, pp. 29-38
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Selected Projects
CanHEAL: The Canadian network for Health Equity using Advanced data Linkage
The overarching aim of this project is to advance equity in maternal and perinatal care in Canada using population-based investigations of racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity and severe perinatal morbidity and mortality.
The Robson classification is a global standard for comparing cesarean delivery (CD) rates across populations; however, this classification does not account for differences in maternal, fetal, and obstetric practice factors known to impact CD rates.
Our objective is to understand how often individuals face mental health challenges after experiencing SMM.
Asian-White disparities in obstetric anal sphincter injury
Studies from high-income countries have identified an increased risk of OASI in individuals who identify as Asian race vs those who identify as White; we are conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate this relationship.
Characterizing maternal and neonatal trauma associated with forceps and vacuum delivery
In Canada, rates of trauma following OVD are higher than previously reported, irrespective of region, level of obstetric care and volume of OVD among hospitals. These results support a reassessment of OVD safety in Canada.
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