# Postpartum Weight Retention and Cardiometabolic Disparities: The Effects of Contexual, Psychosocial, and Behavioral Factors

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $434,458

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract (Administrative Supplement)
There are long-standing racial/ethnic inequities in maternal morbidity and mortality where Black
women are 2-3 times as likely to experience maternal health complications such pregnancy-
related hypertension, severe cardiometabolic risk as well as maternal death. Structural racism
and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequities in health, including during pregnancy
and the postpartum period. There is a growing body of research demonstrating the effects of
structural racism as well as how daily experiences of racism and other forms of oppression send
populations, Black women and birthing people in particular, on a trajectory of adverse health,
regardless of income and education. This administrative supplement attempts to address two
key issues, the effects of the COVID pandemic on maternal health and well-being. and the ways
in which structural racism in its various manifestations and dimensions effects cardiometabolic
health and weight trajectories among pregnant and postpartum populations. We will leverage
the ongoing Postpartum Mothers Mobile (PMOMS) Study which is following women during
pregnancy and through one year postpartum and is ancillary to the GDM2 Trial (PI: Davis).
PMOMS takes a novel approach using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), which is
collecting data in real time; and using smart phone technology and smart scales to collect
psychosocial, behavioral and location data.
The supplement will address the following aims:
Aim 1: Determine the influence of COVID-19 on psychosocial stress, mood and experiences of
racism (and other forms of discrimination) during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Aim 2: Investigate the association between structural racism (measured by multiple dimensions
and domains) and pregnancy and birth (e.g., postpartum weight, cardiometabolic health, small-
for-gestational-age birth).
Aim 3: Explore pregnant and postpartum people’s experiences with understanding the key
research findings from PMOMS and specifically related to COVID-19 and SRD to develop a
community-based dissemination plan for future action and interventions.
The results of the overall PMOMS study and the administrative supplement has the potential to
advance health and clinical and public health practice by determining optimal points of time and
frequency for intervention. The supplement will be critical in furthering our understanding of the
effects of COVID-19 and structural racism on maternal health and for long-term, sustainable
solutions to addressing the maternal health crisis and particularly the profound impact on Black
women and birthing people.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10390518
- **Project number:** 3R01HL135218-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Dara Daneen Mendez
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $434,458
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-02-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10390518

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10390518, Postpartum Weight Retention and Cardiometabolic Disparities: The Effects of Contexual, Psychosocial, and Behavioral Factors (3R01HL135218-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10390518. Licensed CC0.

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