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Social Determinants of Health Among Pregnant Hispanic Women and Associated Psychological Outcomes

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Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

There has been a concerning surge in maternal mortality among Hispanic women in recent years. Compromised mental health is present in nearly half of all maternal deaths, and risk factors include poor social support and depression.

Objective

Among Hispanic women who were born in the USA versus those not born in the USA, we sought to describe and compare social determinants of health and maternal psychological outcomes.

Methods

Hispanic pregnant women (n = 579) were recruited from two clinics in Tampa, FL, and completed various questionnaires related to social determinants of health, depression, stress, and social support.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square analyses were used to compare relationships between maternal nativity and subsequent psychosocial outcomes. Pearson correlations were used to explore associations between variables.

Results

Hispanic pregnant women who were not born in the USA had lower incomes (χ2 = 5.68, p = 0.018, df = 1), were more likely to be unemployed (χ2 = 8.12, p = 0.004, df = 1), and were more likely to be married (χ2 = 4.79, p = 0.029, df = 1) when compared with those born in the USA. Those not born in the USA reported lower social support (t = 3.92, p<0.001), specifically the tangible (t = 4.18, p < 0.001) and emotional support subscales (t = 4.4, p<0.001). When compared with those born in the USA, foreign-born Hispanic women reported less stress (t = 3.23, p = 0.001) and depression (t = 3.3, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Pregnant Hispanic women not born in the USA are at increased risk for suboptimal social determinants of health, including less social support. US-born women were more stressed and depressed and had higher BMIs.

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Data Availability

We will share our data and/or biosamples for reasonable requests.

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Funding

M.G. reports NIH/NICHD grant support (R01HD086805-05). D.F. reports NIH/NINR grant support (K23NR020222-01A1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Florida College of Nursing, 12912 USF Health Dr, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Kelley Baumgartel, Angeline Saint Fleur, Stephanie Prescott, Rebecca Koerner, Monalisa Harringon & Allyson Duffy

  2. University of Florida College of Nursing, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32619, USA

    Dany Fanfan

  3. University of Florida College of Medicine Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, 3515 Ave Tampa, Fletcher, FL, 33613, USA

    Amanda Elliott

  4. University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Nursing, 1412 Circle Dr, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA

    Ji Youn Yoo & Maureen W. Groer

  5. University of Hawaii at Manoa Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing, 2528 McCarthy Mall, Webster Hall 440, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Samia Ozorio Dutra

  6. University of New Mexico Health Sciences, 2500 Marble Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA

    Ming Ji

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  1. Kelley Baumgartel
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study including conception and design (K.B., S.P., M.J.); data collection (M.H., A.E., A.S.F.); data analysis (K.B., S.P., M.G., M.J.); and writing (K.B., A.S.F., D.F., A.E., J.Y., R.K.).

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kelley Baumgartel.

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Ethics Approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the University of South Florida. (Pro00029913).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. All participants in this study provided informed consent which includes publication in a deidentified manner.

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Baumgartel, K., Saint Fleur, A., Prescott, S. et al. Social Determinants of Health Among Pregnant Hispanic Women and Associated Psychological Outcomes. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01852-7

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