Improving Birth Outcomes Requires Closing the Racial Gap

Christopher, Gail C.; Simpson, P.K.

doi:10.2105/ajph.2013.301817

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although improvements have been made, the striking continued racial disparities, particularly in birth outcomes, indicate that much remains to be done. 41 One hypothesis for the persistent racial gaps in health equality and birth outcomes is that current interventions are not addressing the underlying biological mechanisms early enough. Another hypothesis is that these health disparities reflect the trans-generational transmission of early adversity or chronic stress.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Setting the Trajectory: Racial Disparities in Newborn Telomere Length

Drury

Esteves

Hatch

et al. 2015

The Journal of Pediatrics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective To explore racial differences in newborn telomere length (TL) and the effect moderation of the sex of the infant while establishing the methodology for the use of newborn blood spots for telomere length analyses. Study design Pregnant mothers were recruited from the Greater New Orleans area. TL was determined using MMQ-PCR on DNA extracted from infant blood spots. Demographic data and other covariates were obtained via maternal report prior to infant birth. Birth outcome data were obtained from medical records and maternal report. Results Black infants weighed significantly less than white infants at birth, and had significantly longer TL than White infants (p=0.0134), with the strongest effect observed in Black female infants. No significant differences in gestational age were present. Conclusions Significant racial differences in TL were present at birth in this sample, even after controlling for a range of birth outcomes and demographic factors. As longer initial TL is predictive of more rapid TL attrition across the life course, these findings provide evidence that, even at birth, biological vulnerability to early life stress may differ by race and sex.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Setting the Trajectory: Racial Disparities in Newborn Telomere Length

Drury

Esteves

Hatch

et al. 2015

The Journal of Pediatrics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The social effects of historical inequity are evident in poor health outcomes among African Americans. In the United States, we must consider the historical and current effects of structural racism, which include a complex interplay of intergenerational poverty, lack of economic opportunity, income disparities, cultural isolation, and chronic stress (Christopher and Simpson 2014). Health disparities have their roots in structural and social inequalities embedded in the nation's political, economic, and social climate (Hogan et al 2012).…”

Section: The Social Determinants Of Health and Health Disparities: Evmentioning

confidence: 99%

Framing a Needed Discourse on Health Disparities and Social Inequities: Drawing Lessons from a Pandemic

Martin-Howard

Farmbry

2020

Public Administration Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

COVID‐19 provides numerous opportunities for policy makers to consider matters of social equity in relation to the field of public health. Specifically, by reflecting on health disparities in relation to the disproportionate impact of COVID‐19 on minority and historically underserved populations, we can leverage a needed discourse on health outcomes for many communities. Grounded in the social determinants of health conceptual framework, this essay explores the application of the disproportionate impact of COVID‐19 to vulnerable populations and communities of color for a discussion of strategies for minimizing health disparities.

show abstract

“…In England and Wales, among babies born in 2014 and 2015 and infant mortality rates of Pakistani, Black Caribbean and Black African babies were more than double those of White non-British babies and more than one-and-a-half-times those of White British babies 4. While the overall risks of adverse birth outcomes in high-income countries are already low relative to global averages, to achieve further reductions, interventions targeted at reducing disparities in outcomes across ethnic groups will be required 5…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations in neonatal mortality, infant mortality, preterm birth and birth weight in England and Wales according to ethnicity and maternal country or region of birth: an analysis of linked national data from 2006 to 2012

Opondo

Jayaweera

Hollowell

et al. 2020

J Epidemiol Community Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundRisks of adverse birth outcomes in England and Wales are relatively low but vary across ethnic groups. We aimed to explore the role of mother’s country of birth on birth outcomes across ethnic groups using a large population-based linked data set.MethodsWe used a cohort of 4.6 million singleton live births in England and Wales to estimate relative risks of neonatal mortality, infant mortality and preterm birth, and differences in birth weight, comparing infants of UK-born mothers to infants whose mothers were born in their countries or regions of ethnic origin, or elsewhere.ResultsThe crude neonatal and infant death risks were 2.1 and 3.2 per 1000, respectively, the crude preterm birth risk was 5.6% and the crude mean birth weight was 3.36 kg. Pooling across all ethnic groups, infants of mothers born in their countries or regions of ethnic origin had lower adjusted risks of death and preterm birth, and higher gestational age-adjusted mean birth weights than those of UK-born mothers. White British infants of non-UK-born mothers had slightly lower gestational age-adjusted mean birth weights than White British infants of UK-born mothers (mean difference −3 g, 95% CI −5 g to −0.3 g). Pakistani infants of Pakistan-born mothers had lower adjusted risks of neonatal death (adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98), infant death (aRR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.94) and preterm birth (aRR 0.85, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.88) than Pakistani infants of UK-born Pakistani mothers. Indian infants of India-born mothers had lower adjusted preterm birth risk (aRR 0.91, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.96) than Indian infants of UK-born Indian mothers. There was no evidence of a difference by mother’s country of birth in risk of birth outcomes among Black infants, except Black Caribbean infants of mothers born in neither the UK nor their region of origin, who had higher neonatal death risks (aRR 1.71, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.76).ConclusionThis study highlights evidence of better birth outcomes among UK-born infants of non-UK-born minority ethnic group mothers, and could inform the design of future interventions to reduce the risks of adverse birth outcomes through improved targeting of at-risk groups.

show abstract

Improving Birth Outcomes Requires Closing the Racial Gap

Cited by 13 publications

References 5 publications

Setting the Trajectory: Racial Disparities in Newborn Telomere Length

Setting the Trajectory: Racial Disparities in Newborn Telomere Length

Framing a Needed Discourse on Health Disparities and Social Inequities: Drawing Lessons from a Pandemic

Variations in neonatal mortality, infant mortality, preterm birth and birth weight in England and Wales according to ethnicity and maternal country or region of birth: an analysis of linked national data from 2006 to 2012

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About