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Abstract #159122

Kathryn Cardarelli, PhD¹, Kim Parish Perkins², Scott Ransom, DO, MBA, MPH³, Ralph Anderson, MD³, and Jamboor Vishwanatha, PhD⁴. (1) School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817-735-2625, kcardare@hsc.unt.edu, (2) Fort Worth/ Dallas Birthing Project, 1300 W. Lancaster, Suite 132, Fort Worth, TX 76102, (3) Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, (4) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107

While a large proportion of adverse perinatal outcomes remains unexplained, psychological stress has been hypothesized as an important influence, especially when social support is inadequate. This prospective epidemiologic study uses a community-based participatory approach to extend and improve upon the scientific evidence by exploring the relationship between stress, experiences before and during pregnancy, social context, and the provision of social support in explaining racial disparities in perinatal outcomes. Working collaboratively with the Fort Worth/ Dallas Birthing Project, the study three specific aims: 1) to determine whether the provision of social support improves perinatal outcomes among African American women; 2) to determine whether experiences before or during pregnancy and social context contribute to perinatal outcomes; and 3) to determine the extent to which interactions between social support and social context contribute to perinatal outcomes. The social support intervention, named the Aintie Tia Program after terms used to characterize an aunt (aintie, or tia in Spanish) or other family member who may provide such support, trains and supports community health workers to provide prenatal education during pregnancy, labor support during the birthing process, and breastfeeding and infant care education and support up to 4 months after delivery. African American women in their first or second trimester who enroll in the study complete a questionnaire, are matched with an Aintie Tia, and are followed for outcomes including preterm delivery, low birth weight, and breastfeeding. This partnership approach to improve perinatal outcomes has the potential to reduce persistent and pervasive disparities.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the role of community-based participatory research in eliminating pregnancy outcome disparities
• Recognize the value of community health workers in reducing perinatal disparities
• Assess innovative strategies for improving perinatal outcomes among African American women

Keywords: Birth Outcomes, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.