Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Though the national rate of preterm births has remained relatively stable over the past decade, Alberta's rate has steadily increased, with the province now reporting the second highest rate across Canada. Black mothers account for majority of preterm births in North America and as a result, Black infants make up the highest proportion of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Curiously, Black infants have similar to moderately better outcomes in the NICU when compared to infants of the same gestational age, however, they experience poorer health outcomes such as higher mortality rates once discharged into the community, especially in their first year of life. This shift in outcomes is a concerning phenomenon which disproportionately affects Black preterm infants and is associated with poorer availability and accessibility of resources in the community setting. There is little research exploring the health of Black preterm infants as it relates to health service access in Canada; in Alberta, the data is nearly non-existent. My proposed study will address this significant knowledge gap in the existing literature. Study findings will shed light on access challenges in the care of Black preterm infants after discharge from the NICU and will guide the development of strategies to support their short- and long-term health outcomes in the community setting.