The Link between Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities, Maternal Mental Health, and Birth Outcomes

Abstract

This study sought to understand the link between maternal mental health and birth outcomes, exacerbated by ethnic and socioeconomic disparities among women in the U.S. It was hypothesized that minorities experienced adverse birth outcomes, specifically preterm birth and low birth weight, due to a higher risk for mental health disorders. The study used a data set consisting of 38 participants, two of whom had twins, who utilized a pregnancy and postpartum assessment application called vidaRPM, to produce 41 sets of data. Data from this application were collected and examined for potential relationships between mood alerts (moments of concern for a participant’s mental health) and preterm birth, low birth weight, and high blood pressure. The results did not indicate any significant relationships between mood alerts and any of the physical health indicators analyzed in this project, suggesting that there are more aspects to consider than just ethnicity when conducting a study of this magnitude.