# Center for Collaborative Research in Minority Health and Health Disparities

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES · 2020 · $105,757

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY /ABSTRACT
According to literature pregnant women are at a greater risk for exposure and death during
emergencies. The overall purpose of this proposed study will be to assess and describe how the
isolation and physical distancing measures related to the current Coronavirus pandemic have
affected pregnant women and mothers of children 12 months or younger in Puerto Rico. The
specific aims of the proposed project are: 1) Examine the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in
pregnancy related experiences and outcomes; 2) Examine the mental health impact of the
COVID-19 outbreak in pregnant women and mothers of children 12 months or younger; and 3)
Identify risk and protective factors of pregnant women and mothers of children 12 months or
younger in the COVID-19 outbreak. Participants will be recruited from the Puerto Rico Test-site
for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) consortium cohort which is composed of
pregnant women and mothers from the northwestern region of Puerto Rico that studies the
effects of exposure to contaminants and preterm birth and other birth outcomes. The research
will have two-phased mixed methods approach with an online-based quantitative survey and a
series of individual semi-structured qualitative interviews. Results from the study will provide an
assessment of the COVID-19 impact on pregnancy outcomes, mental health status as well as
identify risk and protective individual and contextual factors among pregnant women and
mothers of children 12 months or younger. The study findings will provide greater insight into
the experiences and needs of Latino Hispanic pregnant women and mothers of children 12
months or younger during pandemics. We expect that the findings can lead to the development
of interventions for community health centers around the island and also to the creation of
evidence-based protocols aimed at the Puerto Rican population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10209339
- **Project number:** 3U54MD007600-34S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Emma Fernandez-Repollet
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $105,757
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1997-09-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10209339

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10209339, Center for Collaborative Research in Minority Health and Health Disparities (3U54MD007600-34S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10209339. Licensed CC0.

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