Quantifying the Effect of Upstream Maternal Risk Factors on Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Neonatal Health across the United States from 2000-2019

Abstract

This study examined racial/ethnic disparities in newborn health and the extent to which differential exposure to three maternal risk factors – air pollution, cigarette smoking during pregnancy, and gestational hypertension – contributes to these disparities. Evidence presented here supports previous findings that racial/ethnic minorities have higher rates of low birthweight and preterm births. Specifically, infants born to NH Black women are substantially more likely to be born low birthweight and preterm. Additional evidence presented here also supports existing findings that infants born to NH Black women are more likely to die during the neonatal period than infants born to mothers of other races/ethnicities.