Taliya Maddox
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Vasantha Padmanabhan
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pediatrics / Medicine
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 6 (3:40pm – 4:30pm)
Authors: Taliya Maddox, Christopher Engeland, Dawn Misra, Carmen Giurgescu, Vasantha Padmanabhan, Nadia Saadat
Abstract
Introduction: Individuals in the African-American community have notably suffered from higher levels of inflammation during pregnancy associated with social factors when compared to other racial communities. Inflammation during pregnancy, also known as maternal inflammation, refers to the immunological response typically triggered by injury or infection that has been found to be impacted by social settings and manner of living (3). Factors such as increased depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence have been tied to systemic maternal inflammation and therefore negative perinatal aftereffects including pre-term birth and birth weight (3). However, the implications of neighborhood safety and crime rate are not as extensively comprehended or addressed. Methods: This study aims to bridge that gap in understanding by working as an extension of the Biosocial Impact on Black Birth study, a longitudinal cohort-based project working to better understand how biosocial factors implicate birth outcomes in African-American women. The data and samples were collected as part of the BIBB study. By using Spearman and Pearson correlation analyses, we will explore the extent of a relationship between neighborhood safety, maternal inflammation, and birth weight in African-American birth-giving individuals (n=187) and infants in the Midwest region of the United States [Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan; Detroit, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio]. We hypothesize that there is a significant connection between the social factor of neighborhood safety [total perceived crime scale], maternal inflammation [cytokines], and birth weight. African-American women are more likely to be exposed to inadequate living conditions including areas with vacant buildings and aggressive crime, which can potentially raise the risk of depressive symptoms and inflammation in this demographic (2). We are monitoring inflammation associated with depressive symptoms by conducting a quantitative analysis of levels of cytokines [Interleukin-8, Interleukin-9, Interleukin-10, Interferon-?, Tumor Necrosis Factor- Alpha, and C-Reactive Protein] Results and Conclusion: Research studies have shown that individuals living in underserved and more perilous areas are more likely to experience higher levels of depressive symptoms which then lead to a higher risk of inflammation (2). This correlation should be further studied to more certainly comprehend factors that influence perinatal outcomes. [Final results will be available upon completion of statistical analysis.]
