Health problems in our nation?s communities are not uniformly distributed. While the national infant mortality average is 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, the highest prevalence when categorized by race is among African American infants. The African American infant mortality rate is 13.8 nearly three times higher than the racial group with the lowest infant mortality rate. Medical advances alone have not eliminated the health disparity gap implying that social and psychological constructs also play important roles. The goal of this research proposal is to study the effects of stress and coping on birth outcomes.
The specific aim i s to gain a better understanding of how perceived racism and stressful life events affect the birth outcomes of African American women and to describe how coping, including spirituality and social support, are related to the cumulative stressors that these women experience. Data will be collected from interviews during pregnancy using various tools to measure stressful experiences that women may encounter and coping strategies used in their lives. Each study participant will be tracked to identify birth outcome. Racial health disparities are a complex issue. This proposal will add a dimension to existing knowledge by examining perceived experiences of racism in context with other variables and their effects on birth outcomes among African American women.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31NR008055-03
Application #
6728270
Study Section
National Institute of Nursing Research Initial Review Group (NRRC)
Program Officer
Bryan, Yvonne E
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2007-03-31
Budget Start
2004-04-01
Budget End
2005-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$28,224
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143