Racial Disparities in Health and Well-being of Pregnant Women in the United States

• In Event: 3520 - Section on Race, Gender, and Class Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 7. Health and Mental Health

Abstract

Background. This paper examines the association between pregnancy and women's health and well-being by racial/ethnic group among women of childbearing age in the US. In line with the weathering hypothesis and the theory of cumulative advantage/disadvantage, I suggest that health during pregnancy may be worse for non-Hispanic black women compared to those of other races/ethnicities. Methods. This analysis uses data from the 2005-2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and ordinal logistic regression to examine life satisfaction and self-rated health of women, by racial/ethnic group, during pregnancy. Results. Findings reveal that non-Hispanic black women report significantly higher rates of dissatisfaction with their lives and lower levels of health and well-being compared to other racial groups during pregnancy. These results provide further support for the theoretical frameworks. Conclusion. There is need to address the perceived racism and discrimination during pregnancy in understanding racial disparities in self-rated health and well-being among women.

Author

• Adenife Modile, University of Colorado-Boulder