Black Women's Perspectives on Structural Racism across the Reproductive Lifespan: A Conceptual Framework for Measurement Development.

Background: Exposures to structural racism has been identified as one of the leading risk factors for adverse maternal and infant health outcomes among Black women; yet current measures of structural racism do not fully account for inequities seen in adverse maternal and infant health outcomes between Black and white women and infants. In response, the purpose of this study was to conceptualize structural racism from the perspectives of Black women across the reproductive lifespan and its potential impact on adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a series of focus groups with 32 Black women across the reproductive lifespan (5 preconception, 13 pregnant, and 14 postpartum).