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Explaining racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes: Unique sources of stress for Black American women

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  • Rosenthal, Lisa
  • Lobel, Marci

Abstract

The infant mortality rate for Black Americans in the US is more than twice the rate for White Americans, with similar racial disparities existing in rates of low birthweight and preterm delivery. Survivors of these adverse birth outcomes have poorer development and health in infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Increasingly, evidence suggests that maternal stress is an important risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. We offer a novel perspective on racial disparities in birth outcomes suggesting that Black American women are subject to unique sources of stress throughout their lives and particularly during pregnancy based on their multiple identities as women, Black, and pregnant. We draw on interdisciplinary work to examine three unique sources of stress for Black American women that elevate their risk for adverse birth outcomes: 1) abuses of Black American women by the medical system and issues of power in obstetrics that disadvantage Black American women; 2) contradictory societal pressures exerted on Black American women about whether they should have children; and 3) historical and contemporary stereotypes about Black American women related to sexuality and motherhood. We discuss implications of this analysis, including applications to research and intervention. Developing a better understanding of the experience of Black American women during pregnancy and throughout their lives offers insight into ways to reduce racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes and their lifelong consequences.

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  • Rosenthal, Lisa & Lobel, Marci, 2011. "Explaining racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes: Unique sources of stress for Black American women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(6), pages 977-983, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:72:y:2011:i:6:p:977-983
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    1. Rachel West & John P. Bartkowski, 2019. "Negotiating Patient-Provider Power Dynamics in Distinct Childbirth Settings: Insights from Black American Mothers," Societies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Allysa D. Quick & Irene Tung & Kate Keenan & Alison E. Hipwell, 2023. "Psychological Well-Being Across the Perinatal Period: Life Satisfaction and Flourishing in a Longitudinal Study of Young Black and White American Women," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1283-1301, March.
    3. Connor, Jade & Madhavan, Sarina & Mokashi, Mugdha & Amanuel, Hanna & Johnson, Natasha R. & Pace, Lydia E. & Bartz, Deborah, 2020. "Health risks and outcomes that disproportionately affect women during the Covid-19 pandemic: A review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    4. Urizar, Guido G. & Nguyen, Vivienne & Devera, Jason & Saquillo, Alexa J. & Dunne, Lauren A. & Brayboy, Cynthia & Dixon-Hamlett, Angela & Clanton-Higgins, Veronica & Manning, Gwendolyn, 2021. "Destined for Greatness: A Family-Based Stress Management Intervention for African-American Mothers and their Children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. Viruell-Fuentes, Edna A. & Miranda, Patricia Y. & Abdulrahim, Sawsan, 2012. "More than culture: Structural racism, intersectionality theory, and immigrant health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2099-2106.
    6. Kirksey, Kristen, 2021. "A social history of racial disparities in breastfeeding in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    7. Attanasio, Laura B. & Hardeman, Rachel R., 2019. "Declined care and discrimination during the childbirth hospitalization," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 270-277.
    8. Preis, Heidi & Mahaffey, Brittain & Heiselman, Cassandra & Lobel, Marci, 2020. "Vulnerability and resilience to pandemic-related stress among U.S. women pregnant at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    9. Tully, Kristin P. & Ball, Helen L., 2013. "Misrecognition of need: Women's experiences of and explanations for undergoing cesarean delivery," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 103-111.

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