195 Race-related stress is associated with low weight and gestational age at birth in a prospective cohort study of pregnant Black persons

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Low birth weight and preterm birth are significant contributors to infant mortality in the United States that disproportionally impact Black pregnant persons and their offspring. Although these outcomes are linked to chronic stress, the contribution of race-related stress remains largely understudied. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We investigated the effect of race-related stress on weight and gestational age at birth in a prospective cohort of 115 pregnant Black persons recruited at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. The Index of Race-Related Stress Brief (IRRS-Brief), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Stressful Events Questionnaire (SEQ) were collected at study enrollment during pregnancy. Neonatal birth weights and gestational age were collected via standardized medical record abstraction. We conducted linear regressions to determine whether greater race-related stress was associated with lower weight and gestational age at birth, while controlling for sources of prenatal stress. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Global racism (total IRRS score) was significantly associated with birth weight when controlling for prenatal perceived stress and stressful life events within the last six months since study enrollment (beta=−16.7, p=.035). Neonatal gestational age was associated with both global racism (beta=-0.03, p=.028) and individual racism (IRRS’Individual’ subscale score) (beta=-0.09, p=.032) when controlling for prenatal perceived stress and stressful life events within the last six months since study enrollment. These results suggest that greater race-related stress contributes to lower weight and gestational age at birth in pregnant Black persons. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Future studies are necessary to determine the mechanisms by which race-related stress contributes to these adverse birth outcomes and to inform the development risk-assessment tools and interventions to mitigate the threat of race-related stress on adverse birth outcomes in high-risk populations.