Spirituality, Social Capital, and Maternal-Infant Outcomes in Latinas

Mexican Americans have such successful birth outcomes, despite low socioeconomic status and poor health care, that they compare favorably with non-Hispanic whites. The effect is known as the "Latino Paradox." This Emory research team will study some 225 Latinas in metro-Atlanta, working with El Centro Internacional de Maternidad (five clinics) and El Centro Medico de la Mama (two clinics). Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to examine the effect of spirituality/religiosity and social capital on birth outcomes. Further, a culturally-specific psychosocial intervention which includes aspects of spirituality-- such as meaning-making--will be created so that Latina mothers (and eventually other ethnic groups) can prevent obstetric problems by taking advantage of spiritual and psychosocial resources. Marla Salmon, dean of SON, applauded the researchers for addressing priority health issues regarding maternal and newborn survival.

Main researchers: Safiya George Dalmida and Bethany Robertson, SON, Maria Carrion, EC Department of Spanish & Portuguese, Winifred Thompson, RSPH and Noel Erskine, CST