Understanding how stress and poor sleep during pregnancy affect African American women’s pregnancy outcomes
Official title: RISK FACTORS FOR RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOMES AFFECTING AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11382220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how environmental stress and poor sleep during pregnancy may contribute to adverse outcomes for African American women and how sleep and metabolism interact.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 1997 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $263,350 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD007586-40 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382220 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant African American women aged 18–40, with singleton pregnancies, starting from 12–14 weeks gestation.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without sleep disturbances or extreme stress may experience no direct benefit beyond contributions to research.
What this research studies
The study will enroll 256 healthy pregnant African American women between 12 and 14 weeks of gestation to explore how demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial stress relate to sleep quality and pregnancy health. Researchers will collect blood and saliva samples and measure hormones related to metabolism and stress, while also assessing sleep quality and stress levels over time. By comparing sleep patterns, stress, and metabolic markers, the study aims to link sleep problems with risks like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and fetal growth issues. The findings could illuminate modifiable factors that improve pregnancy outcomes in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could highlight targets for improving sleep and reducing stress to lower risky pregnancy outcomes for African American women.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown links between stress, sleep, and pregnancy outcomes, but this study integrates sleep, stress, and metabolic markers in a specific population.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chirwa, Sanika Samuel — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Chirwa, Sanika Samuel
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.