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Am J Perinatol 2025; 42(08): 988-996
DOI: 10.1055/a-2405-2409
Review Article

Social Determinants of Health and Diabetes in Pregnancy

Christine Field‡   *
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
,
Xiao-Yu Wang‡   *
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
,
Maged M. Costantine 
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
,
Mark B. Landon
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
,
William A. Grobman
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
,
Kartik K. Venkatesh
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
› Author Affiliations
Funding K.K.V. was supported by the Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program at The Ohio State University. Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program at The Ohio State University.
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Abstract

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. SDOH are systemic factors that may explain, perpetuate, and exacerbate disparities in health outcomes for different populations and can be measured at both an individual and neighborhood or community level (iSDOH, nSDOH). In pregnancy, increasing evidence shows that adverse iSDOH and/or nSDOH are associated with a greater likelihood that diabetes develops, and that when it develops, there is worse glycemic control and a greater frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Future research should not only continue to examine the relationships between SDOH and adverse pregnancy outcomes with diabetes but should determine whether multilevel interventions that seek to mitigate adverse SDOH result in equitable maternal care and improved patient health outcomes for pregnant individuals living with diabetes.

Key Points

  • SDOH are conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age.

  • SDOH are systemic factors that may explain, perpetuate, and exacerbate disparities in health outcomes.

  • SDOH can be measured at the individual and neighborhood level.

  • Adverse SDOH are associated with worse outcomes for pregnant individuals living with diabetes.

  • Interventions that mitigate adverse SDOH to improve maternal health equity and outcomes are needed.

Keywords

diabetes - social determinants of health - social needs - pregnancy

Note

This manuscript was presented at the Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of North America (DPSG-NA) Biannual Conference, Fairfax, VA, November 2023.


* Both authors contributed equally as co-first authors on this manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 08 May 2024

Accepted: 25 August 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
29 August 2024

Article published online:
19 September 2024

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