# Place-level discrimination and birth outcomes

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $248,999

## Abstract

Preterm and low birth weight are the leading causes of infant mortality and childhood disability. 
In the U.S. racial disparities in birth outcomes persist, and there is evidence that discrimination 
partially contributes to this disparity. Most of research on discrimination and birth outcomes 
relies on self-reported experiences of discrimination, and there have been few studies examining 
discrimination at the U.S. national level. Social contexts in which greater hostility towards 
minorities is manifested may cause psychological stress and increase risk of adverse birth 
outcomes. The scientific objective of this research plan is to develop a new county-level indicator 
of discriminatory attitudes from social media data as well as make use hate crimes data and 
measures of explicit and implicit racial bias to provide a detailed and nuanced investigation of 
the impact of discrimination on birth outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in birth outcomes. 
Another strength of this research plan is the longitudinal study design with multiple years of data 
for both measures of discrimination and birth outcomes, which allows us to control for temporal 
trends and stable characteristics of the counties. Furthermore, the influence of discrimination on 
birth outcomes may begin prior to pregnancy. There is increasing recognition of maternal health 
prior to conception influencing fetal development and birth outcomes. The project will empirically 
evaluate whether place-level discrimination is associated with biomarkers of chronic stress among 
young women of child-bearing age. This research plan is complemented by a training plan that builds 
on the applicant’s background in epidemiology and biostatistics and includes new training in: 1) 
developing expertise in Big Data, 2) measurement of discrimination, and 3) stress physiology and 
birth outcomes. The combined research and training plan will prepare the applicant for a successful 
independent research career evaluating how discrimination impact minority health and health 
disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10048646
- **Project number:** 5R00MD012615-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Thu Nguyen
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $248,999
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2021-08-22

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10048646

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10048646, Place-level discrimination and birth outcomes (5R00MD012615-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10048646. Licensed CC0.

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