Explaining racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes: Unique sources of stress for Black American women
Explaining racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes: Unique sources of stress for Black American women
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DOI：
10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.01.013
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发表时间：
2011-03-01
影响因子：
5.4
通讯作者：
Lobel, Marci
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rosenthal, Lisa;Lobel, Marci
美国黑人的婴儿死亡率是白色美国人的两倍多，在低出生体重和早产率方面存在类似的种族差异。这些不良出生结果的幸存者在婴儿期，儿童期和成年期的发育和健康状况较差。越来越多的证据表明，母亲的压力是不良出生结果的一个重要风险因素。我们提供了一个新的视角，种族差异的出生结果表明，美国黑人妇女受到独特的压力来源在他们的生活，特别是在怀孕期间，基于他们的多重身份的妇女，黑人，怀孕。我们利用跨学科的工作来研究美国黑人妇女的三个独特的压力来源，这些压力增加了她们不良生育结果的风险：1）医疗系统对美国黑人妇女的虐待和美国黑人妇女在产科中处于不利地位的权力问题; 2）对美国黑人妇女施加的矛盾的社会压力，关于她们是否应该生孩子;（3）历史和当代对美国黑人女性在性和母性方面的刻板印象。我们讨论了这种分析的影响，包括应用研究和干预。更好地了解美国黑人妇女在怀孕期间和整个生命中的经历，可以深入了解如何减少不良出生结果及其终身后果中的种族差异。(C)2011爱思唯尔有限公司版权所有。
The infant mortality rate for Black Americans in the US is more than twice the rate for White Americans, with similar racial disparities existing in rates of low birthweight and preterm delivery. Survivors of these adverse birth outcomes have poorer development and health in infancy, childhood, and adulthood. Increasingly, evidence suggests that maternal stress is an important risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. We offer a novel perspective on racial disparities in birth outcomes suggesting that Black American women are subject to unique sources of stress throughout their lives and particularly during pregnancy based on their multiple identities as women, Black, and pregnant. We draw on interdisciplinary work to examine three unique sources of stress for Black American women that elevate their risk for adverse birth outcomes: 1) abuses of Black American women by the medical system and issues of power in obstetrics that disadvantage Black American women; 2) contradictory societal pressures exerted on Black American women about whether they should have children; and 3) historical and contemporary stereotypes about Black American women related to sexuality and motherhood. We discuss implications of this analysis, including applications to research and intervention. Developing a better understanding of the experience of Black American women during pregnancy and throughout their lives offers insight into ways to reduce racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes and their lifelong consequences. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.