An examination of the influence of environmental justice policy, Executive Order 12898, on the spatial concentration of manufacturing facilities in EPA Region 6 1988-2009

Mapping high-risk clusters and identifying place-based risk factors of mental health burden in pregnancy

“…Racialized discrimination or racialized stigma during pregnancy has surfaced as a potential explanation for why Black mothers may experience reduced access to quality and timely health services, resources, and support ( Mehra et al, 2020 ). Interventions include anti-bias training, screening for racialized pregnancy stigma, improvements in the quality of care for Black birthing populations, and the provision of racially congruent care ( Griffen et al, 2021 ; Matthews et al, 2021 ; Mehra et al, 2020 ; Moore, 2017 ). Black women in the South have the highest proportion of maternal morbidity in the U.S., and Black women overall are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women ( Liese et al, 2019 ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019 ), making the implementation of such interventions urgent and imperative ( Crear-Perry et al, 2021 ; Howell, 2018 ; MacDorman et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Contextual and social exposures shared among individuals within communities may predict the formation of maternal mental health clusters, emphasizing the importance of examining community-level risks. Community-level contextual variables considered were: racial residential segregation ( Anthopolos et al, 2011 , 2014 ; Salow et al, 2018 ; Moore, 2017 ; Upadhyaya et al, 2014 ; Weil, 2021 ), economic residential segregation ( Nager et al, 2006 ; Moore, 2017 ), access to greenspace ( Sun et al, 2023 ; Kihal-Talantikite et al, 2013 ; Runkle et al, 2022 ; Feng and Astell-Burt, 2018 ), and rural vs. urban residence ( Craemer et al, 2023 ; Ginja et al, 2020 ; Mollard et al, 2016 ; Ross et al, 2011 ). These variables were considered at the zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) level, which is the smallest spatial unit resolution available for this dataset.…”

“…Mounting evidence highlights the importance of examining place-based contextual risk factors in addition to individual-level factors for maternal mental health conditions, which include racial residential segregation ( Anthopolos et al, 2011 ; Salow et al, 2018 ), residential economic segregation ( Crear-Perry et al, 2021 ; Giurgescu et al, 2017 ; Griffen et al, 2021 ; Franks et al, 2017 ; Moore, 2017 ; Nager et al, 2006 ), access to greenspace ( Barton and Rogerson, 2017 ; Nutsford et al, 2013 ), rurality ( Fisher et al, 2012 ; Ginja et al, 2020 ; Mollard et al, 2016 ) and access to community and social resources ( Corrigan et al, 2015 ; Robertson et al, 2004 ).…”