RESEARCH & PRAXIS

 

For a complete list of our publications and grants, please click/tap HERE: 

Project IMPACT

Project IMPACT ( Improving Maternal and reProductive heAlth using Complex systems simulation Techniques) is a collaborative research enterprise co-led by Dr. Kyrah K. Brown, Dr. Michael K. Lemke (University of Houston-Downtown) and Dr. Saeideh Fallah-Fini (Cal Poly Pomona). Learn more about Project IMPACT. 

Black Women’s Preconception Cardiovascular Health Study

Principal Investigator: Kyrah K. Brown, PhD

The prevalence of cardiovascular health risks are steadily increasing among non-pregnant, reproductive-age Black women in the U.S. As a result of systemic gendered racism, Black women are disproportionately impacted by cardiovascular risk and diseases, which contributes to increased risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. This purpose of this  study is to understand cardiovascular health knowledge, health and healthcare behaviors, and attitudes about the quality of one’s social and physical environments among non-pregnant, reproductive-age (18-49) Black women in the United States. Dr. Erica Spears and Tara Robinson (Black Heart Association) contributed to the development of this study.

Selected Presentations and/or Publications

1. 1. Havor E, Guèye S, & Brown KK. (2023). Preconception Cardiometabolic Health and Healthcare Factors among U.S. Black Women (18-49) by Age, Skin Tone, and Pregnancy Intention. Podium Presentation. UTHealth Houston SPH Dallas Campus, Research Beyond Boundaries Conference, Dallas, Texas.
   2. Havor E, Guèye S, & Brown KK. (2023). Examining factors associated with receipt of heart health screenings among black reproductive-age women in the United States. Poster presentation. American Public Health Association, Atlanta, GA.
   3.  Guèye S, Havor E & Brown KK. (2023).Centering black women’s voices in cardiometabolic and reproductive health research: Findings from a pilot study. Podium presentation, Black Caucus of Health Workers. American Public Health Association, Atlanta, GA.
   4. Havor E, Guèye S, & Brown KK. (2024). Examining factors associated with receipt of heart health screenings among Black reproductive-age women in the United States. Poster presentation. 5th Annual Women’s Cardiovascular & Brain Health Symposium at University of Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX.

Implicit Skin Tone Bias among Women’s Health Professionals

Principal Investigator: Jandel Crutchfield

In collaboration with Dr. Crutchfield, we conceptualized this project with the aim of evaluating the associations between cultural humility, color blind attitudes, motivation to respond without prejudice, attitudes regarding implicit bias and implicit bias training, and implicit skin color bias among women’s health providers.

Funding Statement: This research was supported by start-up funding awarded to Dr. Jandel Crutchfield by the University of Texas at Arlington.

Selected Presentations and Publications

1. 1. Garvin A, Green B,  Crutchfield J, Brown KK. (2023). Is healthcare skin deep?: Understanding health care providers’ perceptions about cultural competence and implicit skin tone bias training. Health Equity Alliance Annual Summit. Hurst, TX.

Rural  Health Services & Maternal Health

As a part of a long-standing collaboration with Dr. Jessica Smith, we have conducted several studies investigating maternal health disparities in the rural context and the influence of nursing organizational characteristics on maternal health outcomes. We recently completed Project SOAR, funded by the UTA Center for Rural Health and Nursing’s Rural Community and Academic Collaborative Pilot Project Award. The purpose of this project is to partner with a rural hospital, Faith Community Hospital (FCH), to assess learning needs and design and pilot a health equity-informed obstetric (OB) simulation-based training program.

Selected Presentations and Publications

1. 1. Brown KK, Smith JG, Jeffers RL, & Jean Pierre C. (2020). Association between nurse work environment and severe maternal morbidity in high-income countries: A systematic review and call to action. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(3), 1206-1217.
   2. Smith JG & Brown KK. (2023). Rural hospital and obstetric unit closures as social determinants of racial and ethnic maternal health disparities: A scoping review. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16005
   3. Roye JL, Smith JG, Hutchings M, Brown KK, & Hansen-Bell. (2023). Project SOAR: Virtual simulation to support emergent rural obstetric care. National League for Nursing (NLN) Education Summit, National Harbor, MD.
   4. Roye JL, Smith JG, Hutchings M, & Brown KK. (2024). Project SOAR: Using virtual simulation to support rural emergent obstetric care. Sigma, Delta Theta Chapter Research Symposium at UTA, Arlington, TX.
   5. Smith JG & Brown KK. (2022). Nurses’ perspectives on contributions and consequences of rural hospital closures: A qualitative study. Southern Nursing Research Society 36th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
   6. Smith JG & Brown KK. (2022). TONL Talks: Insights for Nurse Leaders about rural hospital closures from the perspective of frontline nurses and nurse leaders. Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership (TONL) Virtual Conference.

Racial Disparities in Patient Care and Self-Management among Women with Diabetes

Principal Investigator: Kyrah Brown
Co-Investigators: Dr. Tiffany B. Kindratt, Dr. Grace E. Brannon, and Dr. Godfred Boateng.
Research Assistant: Bala Yadu Vamsi Sankuratri, BDS, MPH

The goal of this study was to use the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey datasets (2012-2017 longitudinal files) and robust statistical modeling techniques to investigate racial differences in patient experience among non-pregnant, reproductive-age women with diabetes and its relation to ratings of health care received, diabetes care self-efficacy, and diabetes care monitoring. This study sought to address the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Strategic Research Issue II: MCH services and systems of care efforts to eliminate health disparities and barriers to health care access for MCH populations and  inform the development of equitable clinical patient-centered practices that promote optimal disease management among diverse women and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Funding Statement: This work was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Maternal and Child Health R40 MCH Secondary Data Analysis Research (SDAR) Program [1 R40MC41752–01-00]. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.

Selected Presentations and/or Publications

1. 1. Brown KK, Kindratt TB, Boateng, GO, & Brannon, GE (2022). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare Rating, Diabetes Self-efficacy, and Diabetes Management Among Non-pregnant Women of Childbearing Age: Does Socioeconomic Status Matter?. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33826077/
   2. Brown KK, Kindratt TB,  Brannon GE, Sankuratri BYV, and Boateng GO. (2022). Patient Experience with Their Health Care Provider Among Non-Pregnant Women of Childbearing Age with Diabetes Mellitus by Race and Ethnicity in the United States. Women’s Health Reports.  https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2022.0037.
   3. Kindratt TB, Boateng GO, Brannon GE, Sankuratri BYV  & Brown KK (2023). Testing proximal, intermediate, and health outcomes of patient centered communication among non-pregnant women of childbearing age with diabetes mellitus: Findings from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2012-2018. PEC innovation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10344676/. 
   4. Brannon GE, Kindratt TB,  Boateng GO, Sankuratri, BYV & Brown KK (2023). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Patient Experience and Diabetes Self-Management Among Nonpregnant Women of Childbearing Age With Diabetes in the United States: A Scoping Review, 1990 to 2020. Women’s Health Issues. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37802669/. 
   5. Kindratt TB, Brannon GE, Boateng GO , & Brown KK (2023). The Influence of Racial/Ethnic and Gender Concordance on Care Among Non-Pregnant Women of Childbearing Age with Diabetes Mellitus: an Analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2010–2019. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-023-01779-z. 
   6. Brannon GE, Kindratt TB, Boateng GO, Brown KK. (In Prep). The influence of respect and collaborative decision-making on diabetes care factors among non-pregnanct women of reproductive-age with diabetes. Findings from the 2010-2018 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

 

Academy of Birth Leaders and Educators (ABLE)

Based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, ABLE provides DONA-approved birth doula training, post-training support for doulas, and mentorship and coaching for Black doula leaders. Founder, Nikia Lawson, MA, BSW, BDT/CD (DONA) is a Certified Birth Doula and Birth Doula Trainer with DONA International with over 25 years of experience. We are partnering with Nikia and her team to support their efforts in developing their own research/evaluation agenda to demonstrate the broader impact of doula support in communities.

Black Heart Association

The Black Heart Association is a nonprofit organization focused on the overall improvement of health outcomes in communities of color. BHA’s mission is to eliminate heart-health disparities in black and brown communities through advocacy, education and empowerment. We partner with BHA to support in their efforts to develop their own research agenda and body of evidence.

Pickles & Popsicles, Inc.

Pickles & Popsicles, Inc is a nonprofit organization based in Jackson, Mississippi whose mission is to create a collective of acceptance, support, and transparency for all women journeying to and through motherhood. We are partnering with Pickles & Popsicles to provide support to their research agenda development and current research projects focused on maternal mental health.

NyNi, Inc.

NyNi, Inc., based in Ohio, is here to educate, support, & empower families on their individual journeys and believes that maternal health and infant care is not something you have to navigate on your own.  We are partnering with NyNi, Inc to support them by providing evaluation technical assistance.

Yasiin’s Luv

The mission of Yasiin’s Luv, based in Portland, Oregon, is to help create a safe space for a birthing person and their support/family for an ideal birth and to offer holistic birthing support according to the individual giving birth. The organization integrates cultural preferences if needed for the most desired outcome and honors the birthing person’s beliefs, experience and desires with a trauma-informed lens. Yasiin’s Luv also offers peer and recovery support for those experiencing mental health diagnoses and addiction. We are partnering with Yasiin’s Luv to provide evaluation technical assistance.

Reproductive Health Advocates

This student-led initiative seeks to partner with campus and community groups to address reproductive well-being and justice in Tarrant County. As a part of the Power to Decide Shared Learning Collaborative, this group will work with community partners to (1) implement a Anti-Racism speaker series, (2) implement a Black Reproductive Health & Justice Photovoice Project (ages 18-30), and (3) co-design a community project. The Youth Ambassadors participate in regular trainings and webinars, convenings, and attend trainings.

Fort Worth Report Article

UTA News Release

Youth Ambassadors: Tiara Pratt, Rebecca Jackson
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Jada Reeves, Dr. Brandie Green, Dr. Kyrah Brown

 

UTA Preconception Peer Educator Training & Program (PPEP)

In partnership with Tarrant County Public Health Division of Family Health Services, Mavericks for Public Health and UTA Public Health Programs, we provide annual preconception peer educator trainings based on an adapted curriculum developed by the Office of Minority Health and facilitate at minimum two student-led educational events/activities per semester. For more information, please email mchequitylab@uta.edu.

TCPH Liaison: Isel Collazo
Program Coordinators: Luis Rangel (MRHE Lab) & TBD (Mavs for Public Health)
Faculty Mentors: Anita Corbitt, Dr. Brandie Green, Dr. Kyrah Brown

 

 

 

 

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We encourage Lab members and all students  to engage in local and regional community coalitions. For students, community coalitions present an opportunity to serve the community, network, and develop professionally.

Tarrant County Health Equity Alliance (HEAL)
HEAL is a nonprofit coalition dedicated to eliminated racial and socioeconomic disparities in maternal and infant health in Tarrant County. General body meetings occur every first Thursday from 11:30AM-1:00PM. For more information, contact info@healtc.org.

Tarrant County Birth Equity Collaborative

BEC is comprised of parents, community partners, and health partners working to identify, plan, and implement strategies to eliminate birth inequities in Tarrant County. General body meets occur every last Tuesday from 6:00PM – 7:00PM. For more information, contact birthequity@tarrantcountytx.gov.

Dallas Healthy Start Community Action Network Birth Equity (CAN BE)
CAN BE is a coalition comprised of community residents, partners, and service providers focused on addressing racial disparities in maternal and infant health in Dallas County. For more information, contact