Health Equity and Marginalized Populatio

Health Equity and Marginalized Populations

Research Briefs

Experiences of health and access to care are not evenly distributed across populations. Social, cultural, and structural factors can create barriers that disproportionately affect individuals and communities who are marginalized or underserved. This area of research focuses on understanding these inequities, with particular attention to how identity, language, and access to resources shape mental health experiences. The work presented in these research briefs highlights gaps in representation and support, and aims to inform more inclusive approaches to care, policy, and resource development.

1. Understanding Perinatal Mental Health in the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

Through Social Media

Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are increasingly becoming parents, yet their experiences during pregnancy and the postpartum period remain underrepresented in research. In this project, researchers in the BESST/ Konkle Lab examined how individuals discuss perinatal mental health on social media, focusing on conversations shared on Twitter (now X).

Using a custom data-collection tool and qualitative analysis methods, the study explored the language people use to describe their experiences, including metaphorical expressions that reveal how individuals conceptualize challenges, support, and identity during the transition to parenthood.

The findings highlight the importance of representation, inclusive resources, and supportive communities for 2SLGBTQ+ parents. This work contributes to the lab’s broader research program examining how digital media environments shape experiences of perinatal mental health.

Key Takeaways

Limited visibility of 2SLGBTQ+ perinatal mental health: Online conversations suggest that the mental health experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ parents during pregnancy and the postpartum period remain underrepresented in public discourse.
Language reveals lived experience: The ways people describe their experiences—including metaphorical language—highlight challenges related to support, representation, and navigating parenthood within systems that are often structured around heteronormative assumptions.
Digital spaces matter: Social media platforms can serve as important spaces for sharing experiences, seeking community, and advocating for more inclusive support and resources during the transition to parenthood.

Research Impact

This study contributes to an emerging area of research examining how , particularly for communities that have historically been underrepresented in research and healthcare systems. By analyzing public conversations shared online, the project provides insight into how individuals seek support, share experiences, and advocate for more inclusive resources during the transition to parenthood. These insights inform ongoing research in the BESST/ Konkle Lab on the role of digital information environments in shaping maternal and perinatal mental health.

Student training: This project provided research training opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, including experience in computational social media data collection and qualitative analysis.

A manuscript describing the full findings of this study is currently in preparation.

2. Supporting Black Mothers: Understanding Perinatal Mental Health Experiences

in Canada

Black mothers face unique challenges during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Structural inequities, racial discrimination, and societal expectations of “motherhood” can affect access to care, social support, and mental health. In this project, researchers in the Konkle Lab explored how cultural beliefs, values, health perspectives, and support networks shape the perinatal mental health experiences of Black mothers in Canada.

The researchers spoke with Black mothers across Canada to learn about their experiences of pregnancy, postpartum mental health, and support networks. Using approaches informed by Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Theory, the study examined how race, culture, and gender intersect to influence these experiences.

The study identified key themes including barriers to mental health support, experiences beyond the “baby blues,” holistic approaches involving faith and beliefs, the importance of supportive relationships and spirituality, and navigating life changes before and after birth.

Key Takeaways

Structural and cultural factors matter: Black mothers experience unique barriers to perinatal mental health care due to racism, cultural expectations, and social inequities.
Experiences go beyond “baby blues”: Challenges with anxiety, depression, and stress are shaped by cultural, racial, and personal factors.
Support and spirituality are central: Faith, community, and supportive relationships play a key role in coping and recovery.
Tailored approaches are needed: Screening, diagnosis, and interventions should consider cultural and racial contexts to better meet the needs of Black mothers.

Research Impact

This study provides insight into the culturally specific perinatal mental health experiences of Black mothers in Canada, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive and culturally grounded care. By examining the intersection of race, gender, and culture, the research informs strategies to improve access to support and mental health outcomes for Black mothers, laying the groundwork for future research and practical interventions.

Student Training: This project provided research training for an MSc student and one undergraduate student, offering hands-on experience in qualitative data collection and analysis, as well as exposure to theory-informed approaches like Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Theory.

A manuscript describing the full findings of this study was recently accepted for publication – link to come.

3. Work, Life, and Fertility: How Employment History May Shape Reproductive Health

Can the kinds of jobs women have, and how long they stay in them, affect their chances of becoming pregnant?

In this study, we explored how employment history relates to infertility risk using data from a large U.S. health survey. We found that women’s work experiences may be linked to their reproductive health in important ways. Factors like job type, work conditions, and employment stability can all play a role.

These findings remind us that fertility is not only about biology, it is also shaped by the environments in which people live and work.

Key Takeaways

Employment history is associated with infertility risk among women.
Certain types of jobs or work patterns may increase vulnerability to reproductive challenges.
Workplace conditions (e.g., stress, physical demands, environmental exposures) may contribute to these risks.
Social and structural factors, such as job security and access to healthcare, are important in understanding reproductive health.
Infertility should be considered not only a medical issue, but also one shaped by social and occupational environments.

Research Impact

This research highlights the importance of considering employment and working conditions as key determinants of reproductive health. It suggests that policies aimed at improving workplace safety, reducing occupational stress, and increasing access to healthcare could play a role in reducing infertility risk.
By drawing attention to how social and economic environments shape reproductive outcomes, this work contributes to a broader understanding of health equity and supports more inclusive approaches to women’s health research and policy.

Student Training: This project supported the training of an MSc student, who contributed to analyzing and interpreting national health data. Through this work, they developed skills in understanding how social and environmental factors influence health, and in sharing research findings in ways that are accessible and meaningful to a wide audience.

A manuscript describing the full findings of this study was published. Find the link to the article here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajim.70068