Adverse Birth Outcomes and Maternal Morbidity Among Afro-Latinas and Their Infants: A Systematic Literature Review.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and synthesize research findings on adverse birth outcomes and maternal morbidity among Afro-Latinas and their infants. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted within PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases. Four thousand five hundred twenty-six published peer-reviewed articles from 1970 to 2023 that reported outcomes related to maternal morbidity and/or birth outcomes were screened. After screening, we assessed 22 for eligibility, and ultimately, seven studies were included for data extraction and analysis. RESULTS: Although limited, the existing studies revealed disparities in abnormal birth weight (LBW & SGA) and higher preterm birth prevalence among Afro-Latinas compared to other racial and ethnic peers. These disparities are also prevalent among U.S.-born Afro-Latinas compared to foreign-born Afro-Latinas. CONCLUSIONS: By critically examining the current empirical evidence, we can gain a deeper understanding of how intersectionality impacts perinatal health outcomes among Afro-Latinas. Understanding the root causes of these outcomes through increased research is critical to preventing and reducing poor maternal and child health among Afro-Latinas, particularly those who are U.S.-born.