Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Motherhood Together: Effects Of An Adapted Prenatal Curriculum On Mother And Infant Outcomes, Rebecca Lovan, Clare Brown, Keneshia Bryant-Moore, Leslie Mccormack, Nicole Ward, Shannon Kalkwarf, Beverly English, Elizabeth Riley

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Research shows that pregnant women experiencing housing insecurity are more likely to face barriers to prenatal care that can lead to negative health outcomes for both mother and infant. Previous studies have also shown that prenatal education programs provide pregnant mothers with the knowledge and resources that increase the likelihood of positive health outcomes. An interprofessional healthcare team in Central Arkansas modified an existing prenatal education program to create Motherhood Together, a program specifically tailored for pregnant women facing house insecurity.

Methods: The purpose of this initial evaluation of the Motherhood Together program was to identify the feasibility of …

Attitudes Toward Influenza, Pertussis, And Covid-19 Vaccines Among Economically Underserved Black Women/Birthing People: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Jasmine Cooper, Hanna Lebuhn, James D. Campbell, Stacey Stephens, Wendy G. Lane, Keerthana Kumar, Kathleen M. Neuzil

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Vaccination during pregnancy is critical to the health of birthing persons and infants. Yet, persistent racial disparities in vaccination threaten health outcomes in the U.S. (Lu et al., 2015). Vaccination coverage remains low among non-Hispanic Blacks and other racial minorities – a situation magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic (Freimuth, Jamison, An, Hancock, & Quinn, 2017; Stokes et al., 2020). Consequently, understanding vaccine attitudes for systemically disadvantaged groups is paramount to promoting public health. Illuminating barriers to vaccine uptake creates space for new strategies to reduce hesitancy.

To investigate Black women’s/birthing people attitudes toward influenza and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy, we …

The Impact Of Psychosocial Stress On Maternal Health Outcomes: A Multi-State Prams 8 (2016-2018) Analysis, Blessing Chidiuto Lawrence, Anna Kheyfets, Keri Carvalho, Shubhecchha Dhaurali, Marwah Kiani, Alison Moky, Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction: Significant racial disparities persist in maternal morbidity rates, disproportionately affecting Black women. Experiencing high levels of stress during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for preterm birth, infant mortality, and preeclampsia. This study investigates the impact of psychosocial life stressors on maternal morbidity and racial disparities utilizing the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) dataset.

Methods: Participants (N=24,209) included were from Phase 8 (2016-2018) of the PRAMS survey across five states. Stressors were grouped into traumatic, partner-related, financial, or emotional. Maternal outcomes included gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, prenatal depression, and postpartum depression. The association between life stressors …

Nutrient And Food Group Intakes Of Low-Income Pregnant Women By Race/Ethnicity, Alla M. Hill, Danielle L. Nunnery Phd, Rdn, Ldn, Alice Ammerman Drph, Jigna M. Dharod Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

In an exploratory study, a convenience sample of 148 pregnant women was recruited from a WIC clinic in the southeast region of the U.S. to: 1) Examine and compare daily nutrient and food group intakes of WIC pregnant women to national guidelines, and; 2) Determine racial/ethnic differences in nutrient and food group intakes among WIC pregnant women. Women were selected for the study if they were: ≥ 18 y, in 2^nd trimester of pregnancy, and if they spoke English or Spanish as a first language. Upon recruitment, participants were interviewed to collect information on their socio-demographics, including race/ethnicity. Additionally, …

Violence Against Pregnant Women With Disabilities, Ari K. Mwachofi

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background

Each year, violence is perpetrated against 1.5 million US women, of whom 324,000 are pregnant. Violence in pregnancy has adverse effects on maternal and infant health. Although there are 4.7 million childbearing age women with disabilities, and their pregnancy rates are growing, there is very little information about violence against pregnant women with disabilities.

Objectives

The study questions are: Are there differences in pre- and in-pregnancy violence experiences of women with and without disabilities? Is disability a significant predictor of pre- and in-pregnancy violence against women?

Methods

The study uses data from the 2009 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System …

Racial Disparities In The Association Between Stress And Preterm Birth, Saba W. Masho, Sarah Kye Price, Patricia Anne Kinser, Nancy Jallo

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: High levels of maternal stress have been linked to preterm births. However, findings from previous studies are inconsistent due to the varied use of stress measures. This study examined the effect of maternal stress on preterm birth, using both psychosocial and physiological measures.

Methods: This study was conducted among 231 pregnant women enrolled during their first prenatal care visit. Presence of stress was assessed at enrollment using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Stressful Life Events Inventory (SLEI). Samples of maternal salivary cortisol were obtained during the first trimester and birth outcomes were ascertained at delivery. Multiple …

Perspectives From Community-Based Doulas And Mothers: Neighborhood Context And Pregnancy, Dara D. Mendez, Jessica Burke, Jennifer Jones, Cynthia Salter

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objectives: Limited research explores the potential pathways by which neighborhoods influence pregnancy or how community members conceptualize and interpret how neighborhood contexts and living environments influence pregnancy and birth.

Study Design: We applied participatory Concept Mapping and a series of focused discussions with community-based doulas and mothers.

Methods: We collaborated with a community-based doula program to investigate how mothers and community doulas perceived the neighborhood to influence reproductive health. We conducted a series of focused discussions including ‘Brainstorming’ to uncover key themes related to how neighborhood context influenced pregnancy, ‘Sorting and Rating’ of key themes in association with pregnancy and …

Evaluation Of A Tobacco Educational Intervention For Pregnant Alaska Native Women, Christi A. Patten, Carrie Enoch, Caroline C. Renner, Karin Larsen, Paul A. Decker, Kari J. Anderson, Caroline Nevak, Ann Glasheen, Kenneth P. Offord, Anne Lanier

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Tobacco cessation interventions developed and evaluated for Alaska Native women do not exist. As part of routine clinical care provided at a prenatal visit, a brief tobacco educational intervention for Alaska Native pregnant women (N=100; mean ± SD age = 25.9±6.2 years; mean 6.3± 2.6 months gestation) was piloted at the Y-K Delta Regional Hospital in Bethel, Alaska. This retrospective study reports on the evaluation of this clinical program. The intervention was consistent with the clinical practice guidelines (i.e., 5 A’s – ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange), with an average duration of 20.2 ± 6.8 minutes. The self-reported tobacco abstinence …