Investigating Factors Influencing Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes

Sponsored by

Objective

To examine how various societal and environmental factors may contribute to differences in maternal and infant health outcomes across demographic groups.

Primary Metrics of Structural Racism

DomainMetric
Criminal justice System InteractionsIncarceration Rates

  • Jail Incarceration Disparity Ratio

  • Prison Incarceration Disparity Ratio Violent Crime Arrest

  • Violent Crime Disparity Ratio
Environmental QualityPollution Exposure Levels

  • Composite Index capturing exposures to pollution sources
Economic ConditionsIncome Distribution Patterns

  • The difference between the numbers of non-Hispanic white individuals in highest income bracket and the number of persons of color in the lowest income bracket, divided by the total population size
Housing AccessMortgage Lending Practices

  • The odds of a home mortgage application being denied for the persons of color compared with non-Hispanic white Individuals
Food AvailabilityAccess to Grocery Stores

  • Indicator for census tracts where a significant number (at least 500 people) or share (at least 33 percent) of the population is greater than one-half mile from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store
A silhouette of a pregnant woman standing in front of a window

Specific Aims

  1. Evaluate how key societal factors may relate to maternal and infant health outcomes across different demographic groups.
  2. Assess potential cumulative effects of multiple societal and environmental factors on maternal and infant health.
  3. Apply data analysis methods to identify key drivers of maternal and infant outcomes among different demographic groups in Houston.

 

Funding
Supported by National Institutes of Health

Grant # – R01123456

collaborators