A research lab at UTA uses a combination of community-based participatory methods, secondary data analysis, and evaluation science to investigate social and health system factors that disproportionately impact the health and birth outcomes of Black women.
Led by Kyrah Brown, assistant professor of public health in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Equity Lab’s primary research focus is to investigate and ultimately help address the individual, community, and systemic factors that shape women’s health and birth outcomes.
“Persistent racial and social inequities in maternal and child health remain a significant public health issue,” Dr. Brown says. “Black women, in particular, tend to experience higher rates of preventable chronic health conditions, maternal health complications, and adverse birth outcomes compared to other racial groups.”
While addressing a complex societal challenge, the lab also provides a training ground for UTA students who will go on to impact patients in their careers.
“Being a part of the MCH Equity Lab helps me further understand health disparities and gain research experience that will benefit me both in the workforce and as I pursue a doctoral degree in social work,” says Tamaya Bailey, a graduate student in the School of Social Work.
