The Effects of Intersecting Identity and Social Determinants of Health on Afro-Latina Maternal Morbidity and Infant Birth Outcomes in Florida - ABSTRACT Afro-Latinos make up 12% of the Latino population, rapidly increasing in the US, with approximately 6 million Afro-Latinos adults in 2020. Notably, over two-thirds are of reproductive age, emphasizing the importance of including this group when examining health outcomes related to maternal and child health. Most of the existing literature on maternal and infant health disparities in the US has identified ethnicity and race as mutually exclusive categories, e.g., non-Latino Black vs Latino.Afro-Latinas may be disadvantaged in health outcomes due to the intersectionality of multiple minority identities. Little is known about the perinatal outcomes for women who are both Black and Latina. It is well established in the literature that women of color, particularly non-Latina Black women, experience detrimental social determinants of health, such as structural barriers, racism, discrimination, and residential racial segregation. However, the burden of these barriers is not well understood among Afro-Latinas who may be experiencing distinctive stressors of societal disadvantages based on race and skin color. Guided by Intersectionality Theory, this proposal aims to determine if Afro-Latinas mothers and their infants are at increased risk of maternal morbidities and adverse birth outcomes compared to childbearing women of other racial/ethnic identities through two specific aims: 1) Determine differences in maternal morbidity (pregnancy-related hypertension, pregnancy-related diabetes) and infant birth outcomes (birth weight, preterm birth) among Afro-Latinas in Florida compared to White Latina, non-Latina Black, and non- Latina White mothers and their infants. (2) Examine the effects of residential racial segregation, neighborhood deprivation, and prenatal care utilization with maternal morbidity and infant birth outcomes among Afro-Latinas in Florida compared to women of other racial/ethnic identities. This research will use data from the Florida Vital Statistics (2004-2022) with Afro-Latina mothers and their infants (n=176,040) compared to childbearing women of other racial/ethnic identities (n=3,805,588). The accompanying career training plan will provide a foundation for me to (1) Expand my expertise in the social determinants of health and health equity for Afro- Latina mothers and their children (2) Develop methodological, analytic, and data management skills in multi-level data research methods (3) Expand career development and interdisciplinary team skills and accomplish professional development goals. My interdisciplinary mentorship team will guide me throughout this award. The career development and research plan will support my growth as an independent nurse scientist examining maternal- child health disparities. This proposal provides an innovative perspective directly aligned with the NINR’s aim to address social determinants of health barriers that place vulnerable populations, like Afro-Latinas, at avoidable health disadvantages.
