1
|
Lin B, Middleton RR, Terefe B, Appleton AA, Feingold BJ, Lynch T, Pieterse AL, Rogers R, Armah AE, Bierce LF, Flagg AM, McCarthy S. The Birth and Beyond (BABY) study: protocol for a birth cohort study investigating the social and environmental determinants of pregnancy-related outcomes in Black American families. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e087141. [PMID: 38658013 PMCID: PMC11043692 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the USA, Black birthing people and infants experience disproportionately worse pregnancy-related health outcomes. The causes for these disparities are unknown, but evidence suggests that they are likely socially and environmentally based. Efforts to identify the determinants of these racial disparities are urgently needed to elucidate the highest priority targets for intervention. The Birth and Beyond (BABY) study evaluates how micro-level (eg, interpersonal and family) and macro-level (eg, neighbourhood and environmental) risk and resiliency factors transact to shape birth person-infant health, and underlying psychobiological mechanisms. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The BABY study will follow 350 Black families (birthing parents, non-birthing parents and infants) from pregnancy through the first postpartum year, with research visits during pregnancy and at infant ages 6 and 12 months. Research visits comprise a combination of interview about a range of recent and life course stress and resiliency exposures and supports, psychophysiological (sympathetic, parasympathetic and adrenocortical) assessment and behavioural observations of parent-infant coregulatory behaviours. Spatial analyses are completed by mapping parent current and past residential addresses onto archival public data (eg, about neighbourhood quality and racial segregation). Finally, EMRs are abstracted for information about birthing parent relevant medical history, pregnancy conditions and infant birth outcomes. Analyses will evaluate the risk and resiliency mechanisms that contribute to pregnancy and birth-related outcomes for Black birthing people and their infants, and the protective role of individual, familial, cultural, and community supports. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The BABY study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Albany Medical Centre. The study team consulted with local organisations and groups comprised of stakeholders and community leaders and continues to do so throughout the study. Research results will be disseminated with the scientific and local community as appropriate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Betty Lin
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Rachel R Middleton
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Bethlehem Terefe
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Allison A Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Beth J Feingold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Tara Lynch
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Alex L Pieterse
- Department of Counseling, Educational and Developmental Psychology, Boston College Carolyn A and Peter S Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rebecca Rogers
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Annabelle E Armah
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Lydia F Bierce
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Amanda M Flagg
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Sarah McCarthy
- Department of Sociology, University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences, Albany, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|