"Racial Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women of Color in New York Ci" by Kaylin Peña

Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0002-1949-7777

Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Human Biology

Reader 1

Jenna Monroy

Reader 2

Emily Matteson

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2024 Kaylin Peña

Abstract

Racial Health Disparities Among Pregnant Women of Color in New York City: Biological and Systemic Impacts

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore how racial health disparities, underrepresentation in gynecology, and socioeconomic barriers contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes among women of color in New York City. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines resources from medical anthropology and human biology, this research will examine the biological implications of chronic stress, specifically HPA axis dysregulation, and its role in maternal health outcomes. With the idea of intersectionality, as conceptualized by Kimberlé Crenshaw, the study analyzes the various effects of systemic inequities and social determinants on maternal health, analyzing how chronic stress that is linked to racial discrimination can dysregulate cortisol levels and contributes to negative outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight. This work examines the historical inequities in maternal healthcare and assesses how they continue today through factors such as provider demographics, systematic discrimination, and economic burdens. It explores the structural barriers to reproductive justice for women of color and analyzes how these obstacles limit access to culturally competent and affordable care. By synthesizing both systemic and biological factors, the thesis exposes root causes of these health disparities and proposes actionable solutions for the future. These include increasing healthcare workforce diversity, providing younger generations with access to higher education, implementing culturally sensitive support programs, and integrating both medical and community-based stress reduction interventions. This approach aims to bridge racial health gaps and advocate for systemic changes to improve healthcare access and maternal outcomes for women of color in New York City and other culturally dense urban areas.

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