Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Second Department

Biochemistry

Reader 1

Mary Hatcher-Skeers

Reader 2

Cory Kohn

Abstract

Gestational diabetes affects 2%-10% of pregnancies a year in the U.S. and 5%-20% of pregnancies a year globally. This disease appears when the mother’s β cells become dysfunctional and/or cannot respond to the natural insulin resistance created by pregnancy. It tends to affect women of color at higher rates and puts them at an even higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes after childbirth. This thesis proposes to create a survey for the diverse population of pregnant women in Los Angeles County for five years to obtain data to analyze statistically and identify a possible relationship between income and the prevalence of gestational diabetes, a possible relationship with the level of prenatal care received and race/ethnicity, and/or a possible correlation between the amount of prenatal care received and the rates of gestational diabetes. Women of lower income are expected to have higher rates of gestational diabetes because they have less money available to spend on obtaining great medical attention. Women of color are expected to receive less prenatal care due to the societal stereotypes that have infiltrated the healthcare system, leaving them feeling misunderstood and mistreated. Finally, women who obtained less prenatal care are expected to have higher rates of gestational diabetes in women because they are not receiving the adequate medical attention needed to have a healthy pregnancy.

Download

This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

Share

COinS