April 7, 2023
To advance public health, researchers and health practitioners must understand the lived experiences of the communities they serve, according to a study by the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) Center for Environmental Health Disparities in partnership with Latina mothers in Los Angeles County, California.
Led by Elizabeth Kamai, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern California, the research team worked with community organizations to recruit and interview 36 pregnant Latina women and mothers of young children. The interviews explored the women’s perceptions of local environmental risks, preventative actions, and information sources, among other topics.