 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jodi G Drisko, MSPH, Health Statistics Section, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment, HSVR-HS-A1, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246-1630, 303-692-2171, jodi.drisko@state.co.us, Alyson K Shupe, PhD, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246, and Chris S. Wells, MS, Health Statistics Section, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246-1530.
In Colorado, as in the U.S. as a whole, African American/Black women continue to experience higher rates of low birth weight, prematurity, and infant death than their White peers. Although these health disparities are well documented, knowledge of causes and contributing factors remains elusive. Research into medical risk factors and access to care issues is on-going. Less research exists which illuminates possible psychosocial determinants that may help explain this disparity. This study explores the effects of racism on health care seeking behavior, stress, postpartum depression and birth outcomes using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). PRAMS is a population-based risk factor surveillance system designed to identify and monitor behaviors and experiences of women before, during, and after pregnancy. This surveillance system was developed to supplement vital records data and to generate state-specific data about perinatal health. Information is collected by surveying a sample of women who have recently given birth. In 2002, Colorado conducted a unique PRAMS project in which all African American/Black women who gave birth in Colorado during a six month period were surveyed. Questions about perceptions of racism were included in the survey. Women were grouped into two categories: those who perceive that African American/Black women are treated differently than others and those who do not perceive that they are treated differently. Levels of stress, social support, postpartum depression, and birth outcomes were then analyzed for these two groups. Differences between the groups will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: African American, Pregnancy Outcomes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.