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Support via Online Social Networks to Promote safe Infant Care Practices Toward Reducing Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality (SUPERSONIC)

Award Number: R01MD007702
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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The focus of this renewal application is to build upon the findings from the Influence of Social Networks on Infant Care and Disparities in Postneonatal Infant Mortality (SONIC) study by conducting a 4-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT) using online social networks (OSNs) to promote safe infant care practices and reduce Black/White (B/W) disparities in adherence to these practices. In SONIC, we conducted social network analysis on 402 new and experienced mothers of young infants. We learned that there are 2 social network (i.e., family, friends, and peers) types: exclusive (kin-based) and expansive (not kin-based); that network social norms (group rules defining appropriate behaviors, values, and attitudes) are highly predictive of infant sleep practices (sleep position, bedsharing, soft bedding use); that mothers are more likely to change from safe to unsafe practices if their network members espouse unsafe practices; and that Black mothers are more likely to have exclusive networks, which are more likely to have unsafe practices as the norm. Safe sleep practices are associated with lower rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and unintentional injury- related deaths (e.g. accidental suffocation) associated with the sleep environment. These sleep-related deaths (SRDs) remain the leading cause of postneonatal death in the US, with ~3600 deaths/year; Black infants die at more than double national rates. Thus, differences in social networks and norms contribute to the Black/White (B/W) disparity seen in safe sleep practices, which in turn contribute to the B/W disparity in postneonatal infant deaths; the influence of social networks and norms, if contrary to recommended infant care practices, is a major barrier to acceptance of these practices. OSNs have become a powerful tool for establishing social norms and influencing behavior, and data suggest that this is equally or more so for Blacks. Thus, our proposed SUPERSONIC (Support via Online Social Networks to promote Safe Infant Care practices Toward Reducing Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality) study is the natural next step after SONIC. We plan to test, through a 4-armed pragmatic RCT, an intervention strategy that uses OSNs (private Facebook groups) to change social norms among WIC recipient mothers, who have a disproportionate burden of SRDs and high proportion of Blacks. Mothers in each study arm will participate in an OSN and receive one of 4 messaging interventions: 1) safe sleep alone, 2) breastfeeding alone, 3) both safe sleep and breastfeeding, and 4) routine health messages (attention-matched control). Beginning prenatally, we will disseminate via OSNs videos and messages that address common myths and misconceptions to ultimately impact attitudes and social norms regarding infant sleep practices and breastfeeding. If utilization of OSNs is effective in changing network norms and maternal attitudes, and improving adherence, this approach is easily scalable. Moreover, it could be replicated and potentially readily applied to other health care messages, including vaccine acceptance and nutrition/obesity.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $622,939 )
2025	2025	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	10	1/10/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$622,939
														Subtotal = $622,939

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $668,893 )
2024	2024	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	9	5/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$48,270
2024	2024	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	9	12/27/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$620,623
														Subtotal = $668,893

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $692,497 )
2023	2023	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	8	1/21/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$692,497
														Subtotal = $692,497

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $695,581 )
2022	2022	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	7	1/31/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$626,023
2022	2022	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	7	4/27/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$69,558
														Subtotal = $695,581

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $749,724 )
2021	2021	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	6	5/12/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2021	2021	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	6	5/6/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$749,724
2021	2021	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	002	6	5/17/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $749,724

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = -$205,855 )
2020	2018	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	5	8/5/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$205,855
														Subtotal = -$205,855

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $316,700 )
2018	2018	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	5	3/1/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$316,700
														Subtotal = $316,700

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $368,868 )
2017	2017	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	4	6/29/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,888
2017	2017	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	4	3/9/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$331,980
														Subtotal = $368,868

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $403,730 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	P.O. BOX 400195	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22904	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	3	4/8/2016	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$403,730
2016	2015	CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE	111 MICHIGAN AVENUE, NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20010	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	2	4/7/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $403,730

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $378,840 )
2015	2015	CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE	111 MICHIGAN AVENUE, NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20010	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	2	3/10/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$378,840
														Subtotal = $378,840

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $383,613 )
2014	2014	CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE	111 MICHIGAN AVENUE, NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20010	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	7/10/2014	NEW	$383,613
														Subtotal = $383,613

Grand Total All Awards = $5,075,530

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Support via Online Social Networks to Promote safe Infant Care Practices Toward Reducing Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality (SUPERSONIC)

Award Number: R01MD007702

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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