Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

5-2026

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Health Promotion

First Committee Member

Aislinn Rookwood, PhD, MPH

Second Committee Member

Jamie Dowling, PhD, MPH

Third Committee Member

Ann Rogers, PhD, MPH

Abstract

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) poses significant health risks, specifically increasing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes post-delivery, as well as increasing the risk of adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. Black women, in particular, experience disproportionately higher rates of GDM incidence, severity, and complications in comparison to White women. Biological factors alone do not account for these disparities, necessitating a deeper examination into how systemic factors, particularly the social environment, influence these inequitable health outcomes. The purpose of this comprehensive literature review is to answer the question: “How do the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), such as residential segregation, food insecurity, and access to culturally competent healthcare, contribute to the disproportionate burden of GDM among Black women?" This review included peer-reviewed articles published between 2015-2025 from the databases of PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Embase. Searches were tailored to connecting non-medical factors that affect health to GDM in Black women. Data were extracted and synthesized from seven articles investigating the relationship between the SDoH and GDM among Black women. The review identified that all seven included studies linked social and community determinants to (GDM), also highlighting how economic stability and neighborhood-level deprivation, such as residential segregation and food insecurity, worsen GDM risk among Black women. The findings suggest that the disproportionate burden of GDM in Black women is driven by the 'weathering' effects of structural racism and systemic environmental neglect, demanding a shift from individual-focused clinical interventions toward public health strategies that address broader social determinants of health.

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