Publications by authors named "Slaughter-Acey J C"

The mental health impact of disasters is substantial, with 30-40% of direct disaster victims developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is not yet clear why some people cope well with disaster-related trauma while others experience chronic dysfunction. Prior research on non-disaster trauma suggests that an individual's history of traumatic experiences earlier in the life course, prior to the disaster, may be a key factor in explaining variability in psychological responses to disasters.

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This study estimated the social and economic costs of body dissatisfaction and appearance-based discrimination (specifically, weight and skin-shade discrimination) in the United States (USA) in the 2019 calendar year. We used a prevalence-based approach and a cost-of-illness method to estimate the annual cost of harmful appearance ideals for cases of body dissatisfaction and discrimination based on weight and skin shade. Impacts on conditions/illnesses such as eating disorders that are attributable to body dissatisfaction, weight discrimination and skin-shade discrimination were identified through a quasi-systematic literature review, which captured financial, economic, and non-financial costs.

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Background: Preterm birth rates are consistently higher in African American (AA) pregnancies compared to White pregnancies in the United States. Neighborhood racial composition, experiences of racial discrimination, and systemic inflammation are factors that have been associated with preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes that may account for these disparities. Here, we investigated whether perceived neighborhood racial composition and experiences of discrimination were predictive of cytokine levels during pregnancy among AA individuals.

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Background: Mother-to-infant transmission of HIV is a major problem in Sub-Saharan Africa despite free or subsidized antiretroviral treatment (ART), but is significantly reduced when mothers adhere to ART. Because potable water access is limited in low-resource countries, we investigated water access and ART adherence intention among HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers in Zambia.

Methods: Our convenience sample consisted of 150 pregnant or postpartum women receiving ART.

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African American women are more likely to experience preterm birth (<37 completed weeks gestation) compared with White women. African American women are also more likely to live in neighborhoods characterized as disadvantaged (i.e.

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Prior studies of neighborhood racial segregation and intrauterine growth have not accounted for confounding factors in early life. We used the Life-Course Influences on Fetal Environment Study of births to Black women in metropolitan Detroit, 2009-2011, ( = 1,408) to examine whether health and social conditions in childhood and adulthood confound or modify the association of neighborhood segregation (addresses during pregnancy geocoded to census tract racial composition) and gestational age-adjusted birthweight. Before adjusting for covariates, women living in a predominantly (≥75%) Black neighborhood gave birth to 47.

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Background: A steep rise in food insecurity is among the most pressing US public health problems that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) describe how food-insecure emerging adults are adapting their eating and child-feeding behaviors during COVID-19 and (2) identify barriers and opportunities to improve local food access and access to food assistance.

Design: The COVID-19 Eating and Activity Over Time study collected survey data from emerging adults during April to October 2020 and completed interviews with a diverse subset of food-insecure respondents.

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Objective: To examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and preterm birth (PTB) within the context of depressive symptoms (DS).

Methods: Data are from the Life-course Influences of Fetal Environments (LIFE) Study, a cohort comprised of 1410 Black women, age 18-45 years who delivered a singleton in Metropolitan Detroit, MI. DS were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); a score > 23 indicates severe DS.

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We examined how sociopolitical context (marked by generational cohort) and maternal skin color interacted to influence preterm delivery (PTD) rates in sample of Black women. Data were from 1410 Black women, ages 18-45 years, residing in Metropolitan Detroit, MI enrolled (2009-2011) in the Life-course Influences on Fetal Environments (LIFE) Study. Because we hypothesized that generational differences marked by changes in the sociopolitical context would influence exposure to racism, we categorized women into two cohorts by maternal birth year: a) Generation X, 1964-1983 and b) Millennial, 1984-1993.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study explores the prevalence of preconception health risks among women, particularly focusing on those with disabilities who also belong to historically minoritized racial and ethnic groups.
  • Data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was analyzed, revealing that women with disabilities across all racial and ethnic categories face higher health risks compared to their non-disabled peers.
  • The findings highlight that Black women with disabilities are particularly affected by obesity and risk factors, suggesting a need for targeted health interventions for this vulnerable population.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study examined how pre-treatment counseling affects adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV+ women in Zambia enrolled in Option B+.
  • 150 women from rural and urban areas were included, with 75% reporting adherence in the past week.
  • Results showed that counseling significantly improved adherence in rural settings but not in urban ones, highlighting the importance of counseling in promoting medication adherence in resource-limited areas.
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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate if attitudes or behavioral beliefs about antiretroviral therapy (ART) influence ART adherence intention among pregnant and breastfeeding women in Zambia.

Methods: We recruited 150 HIV-positive women receiving ART in urban (Lusaka) and rural (Sinazongwe) districts of Zambia. Generalized modified Poisson regression models were used to assess the extent to which adherence intention was influenced by attitude toward ART or behavioral beliefs about ART.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored how access to toilet facilities affects HIV-positive women's intentions to stick to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Zambia.
  • A total of 150 women from urban and rural areas participated, with their adherence intentions assessed using a method based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.
  • Results indicated no major difference in toilet access between urban and rural women; however, rural women showed lower intentions to adhere to ART, highlighting the importance of improved sanitation facilities for better health outcomes.
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Introduction: Literature posits that discrimination can be a barrier to racial and ethnic minorities' healthcare use. This study examines the relationship between perceived discrimination in the form of racial microaggressions and delayed prenatal care in African American women. It also investigates whether this relationship is modified by women's shade of skin color owing to societal attitudes and beliefs tied to colorism (also known as skin-tone bias).

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Objective: To investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and preterm birth (PTB) while adjusting for social support, both general and from the father of the baby.

Design: Retrospective study design.

Setting: Participants of the Life-course Influences of Fetal Environments (LIFE) study were recruited from a suburban hospital in Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan.

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The majority of studies investigating the relationship between racism/racial discrimination and birth outcomes have focused on perceived experiences of racism/racial discrimination directed at oneself (personal racism). However, evidence suggests individuals report with greater frequency racism/racial discrimination directed at friends, family members, or other members of their racial/ethnic group (group racism). We examined how much African American (AA) women report lifetime experiences of perceived racism or racial discrimination, both personal and group, varied by maternal age.

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Purpose In the United States, families with children characterize the fastest growing portion of the homeless population. Parenting for families experiencing homelessness presents unique challenges since families facing homelessness are disproportionately more likely to experience a myriad of interpersonal and contextual stressors that heighten the risk of parents engaging in suboptimal parenting approaches. This article describes the development and implementation of the Family Care Curriculum (FCC) train-the-trainer parenting support program specifically designed to support positive parenting in families experiencing homelessness.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores how household assets affect child mortality in developing countries, particularly using data from Ghana.
  • The analysis found that overall household resources were linked to lower child mortality rates, especially in rural areas, with possession of a refrigerator being particularly significant.
  • Conversely, having kerosene lanterns or flush toilets was associated with higher child mortality odds, indicating complex relationships between household resources and health outcomes.
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Background: Symptoms of depression have been related to lower gestational age and preterm birth (<37 completed weeks gestation). Leisure time physical activity may have protective effects on preterm birth; however, less has been published with regard to other domains of physical activity such as walking for a purpose (e.g.

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Introduction: Higher adult socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with better birth outcomes. However, few studies incorporate life-course or intergenerational SEP, which may inform etiology and targeted prevention efforts. This study tested whether life-course social mobility from childhood was associated with lower risk of adverse birth outcomes.

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Introduction: Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients in the United States. In 2010, 80,710 of 6,280,710 hospitalized children <17 years old had a coded diagnosis of malnutrition (CDM). This report summarizes nationally representative, person-level characteristics of hospitalized children with a CDM.

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Purpose: This study sought to examine whether perceived interpersonal racism in the form of racial micro aggressions was associated with preterm birth (PTB) and whether the presence of depressive symptoms and perceived stress modified the association.

Methods: Data stem from a cohort of 1410 black women residing in Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, enrolled into the Life-course Influences on Fetal Environments (LIFE) study. The Daily Life Experiences of Racism and Bother (DLE-B) scale measured the frequency and perceived stressfulness of racial micro aggressions experienced during the past year.

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Objective: Poor fetal growth is associated with increased rates of adverse health outcomes in children and adults. The social determinants of poor fetal growth are not well understood. Using multiple socioeconomic indicators measured at the individual level, this study examined changes in maternal socioeconomic position (SEP) from childhood to adulthood (socioeconomic mobility) in relation to poor fetal growth in offspring.

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