Chegwin V, Teitler J, Muchomba FM, Reichman NE. Racialized police use of force and birth outcomes.
Soc Sci Med 2023;
321:115767. [PMID:
36841221 PMCID:
PMC10091227 DOI:
10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115767]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To estimate associations between police use of force (PUOF) in local jurisdictions and birth outcomes of Black women compared to White women.
METHODS
Using birth records linked to municipal police department data on PUOF incidents, we estimated associations between overall and racialized PUOF and birth outcomes of 75,461 Black women and 278,372 White women across 430 municipalities in New Jersey (2012-2016).
RESULTS
Overall PUOF was not associated with birth outcomes of Black or White women. A 1% increase in racialized PUOF was associated with a 0.06% increase in the odds of low birth weight (β: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03-0.09) and preterm birth (β: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.03-0.10) among Black women but had no associations with birth outcomes of White women.
CONCLUSIONS
Lack of associations between overall PUOF and birth outcomes coupled with significant associations between racialized PUOF and birth outcomes, among Black women only, is consistent with mounting evidence that structural racism adversely affects the health of Black people in the U.S.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The findings point to the need to address health inequalities at the structural level.
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