The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) is pleased to announce that the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded an F31 grant to PhD in Nursing Science student Alexa Parra, RN, BSN, BSPH to study birth outcome disparities and maternal morbidity among Afro-Latina women in Florida.
The F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) supports mentored research training opportunities for promising predoctoral students conducting dissertation research who demonstrate potential to develop into productive, independent research scientists. Under the co-sponsorship of Dr. Hudson Santos, SONHS Vice Dean for Research Affairs, and Dr. Cynthia Lebron, SONHS Assistant Professor, this NRSA training grant will fund Parra’s two-year, statewide project starting August 2023.
“As a labor and delivery registered nurse, I possess an intimate understanding of the unique challenges and disadvantages women of color face regarding perinatal and infant birth outcomes,” said Parra, a DAISY Award-recognized professional who earned dual nursing and public health baccalaureate degrees at SONHS in 2016 before returning in 2021 to pursue a PhD. “It is my deep-rooted passion to address these avoidable health disparities and effect lasting change in the lives of Afro-Latina families.”
According to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures, the overall rate of 23.8 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the United States drops to 19.1 for white women and 18.2 for Hispanic women. Disparately, in the U.S., 55.3 Black mothers out of every 100,000 live births die.
As this data illustrates, most maternal and infant health disparities research conducted in the U.S. has identified race and ethnicity as mutually exclusive categories, leaving people with multiple minority identities (e.g., Afro-Latinas) at disadvantages when it comes to their health. It is well established that women of color experience negative social determinants of health, but the extent to which Afro-Latina women experience them is understudied.
To determine if Afro-Latina mothers and their infants are at increased risk of maternal morbidities and adverse birth outcomes compared to childbearing women of different races and ethnicities, Parra will use Florida Vital Statistics (2004-2022). She will also examine effects of residential racial segregation, neighborhood deprivation, and prenatal care utilization with maternal morbidity rates and infant birth outcomes.
“Our drive to always be a school that inspires novel, optimistic, world-changing ideas can be seen in accomplishments like this excellent proposal from Alexa Parra,” said SONHS Dean and Professor Cindy L. Munro. “I am proud to see Alexa’s bright promise recognized. Improving maternal and infant health outcomes is a top aim within our school’s key priority to promote health equity across diverse communities."
Parra’s mentor team includes Dr. Santos, an expert in maternal-child health and social determinants of health in at-risk populations; Dr. Lebron, an expert in Latina health and maternal-child health; Miller School of Medicine Professor Dr. JoNell Efantis Potter, a nurse scientist and an expert on maternal morbidity and pregnancy among at-risk populations; and Miller School Assistant Professor Dr. Yue Pan, epidemiologist and biostatistician. This team will help Parra implement her career plan to expand expertise in social determinants of health and healthy equity for Afro-Latina mothers and their children; develop methodological, analytical, and data management skills in multilevel data research methods; grow career development and interdisciplinary team skills; and attain professional development goals.
“As director of the SONHS PhD in Nursing Science Program, and as a health disparities researcher, I am thrilled that Alexa is receiving this well-deserved recognition and opportunity to address the health needs of Afro-Latinas,” said SONHS Professor Victoria Behar-Zusman, PhD.
About the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies:
Celebrating its 75th Year of Educational Excellence, the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) transforms lives and health care through education, research, innovation, and service across the hemisphere. SONHS has grown from South Florida’s first collegiate nursing program to a world-class, accredited, research-driven school conferring undergraduate and advanced degrees in nursing, as well as bachelor’s degrees in public health and health science. SONHS values its diverse faculty, students, and 250+ clinical and community health partners. The SONHS research core includes the Jorie Healthcare Partners Biobehavioral Research Laboratory, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre, Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities, Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Program, and 41,000-square-foot Simulation Hospital Advancing Research and Education (S.H.A.R.E.®). For more information, visit sonhs.miami.edu.
