Preterm Birth in African American Women: A Multi-Omic Pilot Study in Early Pregnancy.

Preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks completed gestation) is a devastating problem affecting over 13 million live births worldwide. In the U.S.

Associations Among Racial Discrimination, Perceived Stress, and Birth Satisfaction in Black Women in the Postpartum Period.

Objective: To examine associations among experiences of racial discrimination, perceived stress, and birth satisfaction and to test if perceived stress mediates the relationship between racial discrimination and birth satisfaction among Black women in the postpartum period.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from the Biosocial Impact on Black Births study.

Setting: A postpartum unit of a large hospital in Central Florida.

Racial Discrimination, Social Support, and Psychological Distress Among Black Pregnant Women.

Background: Black pregnant women who experience racial discrimination are at an increased risk of psychological distress. Studies have not adequately addressed if social support may moderate the association between experiences of racial discrimination and psychological distress among Black pregnant women.

Objective: We sought to examine the moderating effect of social support on the association between experiences of racial discrimination and psychological distress among Black pregnant women.

Neighborhood Environment and Perceived Stress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Childbearing Black Women.

Purpose: The purpose of this study among pregnant and postpartum Black women was twofold: (1) to compare levels of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, social support, and neighborhood disorder and crime before the pandemic vs during the pandemic; and (2) to examine the association of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and social support with neighborhood disorder and crime at both time points.

Methods: This was a prospective study as part of the Biosocial Impact on Black Births, a longitudinal study that examined the role of maternal factors on preterm birth among Black women. A sample of 143 women were included who responded to survey questions during pregnancy prior to the pandemic and again after birth, during the pandemic.

A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Mother-Father Relationship and Perceived Stress Among Black Pregnant Women.

Background: Black women in the United States report moderate to high levels of perceived stress during pregnancy. Though lower levels of involvement and support from father of the baby (FOB) and higher levels of conflict have been associated with higher levels of maternal perceived stress, it is not clear how Black pregnant women experience the mother-father relationship and its influence on perceived stress.

Purpose: To examine and describe the mother-father relationship and its role in experiences of perceived stress from the perspective of Black pregnant women.