Patient perspectives on noninvasive prenatal testing among black women in the United States: a scoping review.

Advances in reproductive health technologies such as noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) are changing the landscape of prenatal care and maternal health. NIPT, made clinically available in the United States (US) in 2011, is a screening test that utilizes cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to detect for aneuploidies and genetic characteristics in fetal DNA. In September 2020, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended NIPT for all pregnant patients regardless of age or risk factors. We examined peer-reviewed, empirical studies published from January 2011 to February 2022, assessing NIPT studies with patient perspectives in the US and what is known about how empirical studies include Black women. Our scoping review draws from PubMed (with advanced MeSH search options) and Scopus databases for advanced scoping review, with 33 articles meeting our criteria. Empirical studies on NIPT show patient perceptions range across five themes: 1) accuracy / safety, 2) return of results, 3) patient knowledge, 4) informed consent, and 5) perceptions among minoritized groups (with perceptions of race and gender as a social demographic intersection). Additionally, among the 15 studies that included that Black woman in their study sample, none measured the perceptions of Black women with genetic conditions. Bridging this knowledge gap is critical because NIPT is becoming increasingly accessible across the nation and is being developed to screen for additional genetic conditions, such as sickle cell disease. Ultimately, NIPT researchers need to go to greater lengths to examine the patient perspectives of Black women with and without genetic conditions.

Prevalence and Demographic Profiles of Food Insecure College Students at Main and Satellite Campuses in Northwestern USA.

Background: Recent studies demonstrated that food insecurity rates among college students surpass that of the general population. Both academic and health implications have been associated with food insecurity. Aim: This study compared the prevalence of food insecurity among students at three satellite campuses with those at the main campus of a 4-year, public university. Methods: In this cross-sectional design study, data were collected for four weeks using an anonymous, online questionnaire (10 demographic questions plus the USDA's Adult Food Security Survey 10-item module). A sample of 983 students was recruited from the 9064 undergraduate and graduate students attending a state university. Chi-square tests were used to assess demographic differences between food insecure students on the main and satellite campuses. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the odds of food insecurity by campus (satellite vs. main), after controlling for demographics. Statistical significance was assessed at P < 0.05. Results: Bivariate results indicated the rate of food insecurity was significantly higher on the main campus (45%) than on the satellite campuses (34%, P = 0.007). However, after controlling for demographics there was no difference in the odds of food insecurity by campus (P = 0.239). Conclusion: The study findings are novel as no other studies compared the prevalence of food insecurity among students attending satellite campuses compared with those at the main campus. After controlling for demographics, type of campus (satellite vs. main) was not a significant factor in the odds of food insecurity.

Cultivating diversity as an ethos with an anti-racism approach in the scientific enterprise.

The diversity of the U.S. population is currently not reflected in the genomic workforce and across the greater scientific enterprise. Although diversity and inclusion efforts have focused on increasing the number of individuals from underrepresented groups across scientific fields, structural racism remains. Thus, the cultivation and adoption of diversity as an ethos requires shifting our focus to being intentional about an institution's character, culture, and climate. One way for this ethos to be sustained is by facilitating an intentional anti-racism approach within the field. Adopting a new perspective on diversity utilizing an anti-racism approach will support genomics researchers as we build supportive, collaborative research environments. We seek to expand critical thought in the framing of diversity in the research enterprise and propose an anti-racism approach that informs deliberate actions required to address structural racism.