Public Health Students, Alumni Present at Global Health Conference on Social Justice, Health Equity

By Caitlin Burns | November 13, 2020

By Katherine Haines ’21

Led by Dr. Heather deVries McClintock, assistant professor of Public Health, public health students and alumni presented research on social justice topics at the 12th Annual Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Global Health Conference, “Power, Politics, and Pediatrics: Assessing the Impact of Governance on Global Child Health.” 

Chinemenma Amonu ’20MPH presented capstone research on African-American mothers and provider care, examining their perspectives and experiences with obstetrics care in the United States and suggesting a need for systemic modifications to reduce racial inequities in maternal mortality. 

Grace Acosta ’22M, MPH presented capstone research on the current political environment and preventive healthcare access for Latina immigrants in the U.S. She found that anti-immigrant sentiment was associated with reduced access to preventative care for Latina immigrants in the U.S.  

Nick Fleming ’23, a Public Health major, presented research developed with Alexis Lambert ’22MPH on intimate partner violence and child loss in sub-Saharan Africa. Their results suggest that intimate partner violence may contribute to child loss in sub-Saharan Africa, indicating a need for interventions empowering women. 

“Findings from these projects provide insight into the quality of and access to health care for African American and Latina immigrants in the United States as well as social determinants shaping health for women in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Dr. deVries McClintock. “Implications from this work suggest a need for social activism to promote racial justice and health equity.”