Climate Change Effects on Pregnancy via a Traditional Food

Washington State University, Pullman WA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Environmental factors can affect American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) health via effects on traditional food systems, but there is substantial underappreciation for the environments from which foods consumed during pregnancy are sourced. Furthermore, maternal diet and nutrition are highly influential in pregnancy and can affect the short- and long-term health of both mothers and their offspring. Certain adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) have also been linked to maternal diet and nutrition, and AI/AN groups have overall higher rates of APOs. Despite the importance of maternal diet and nutrition in improving APO rates within overburdened populations, there is a paucity of literature concerning nutrition during pregnancy in AI/AN mothers. The research proposed will carry out two Specific Aims that will help fill this critical knowledge gap by identifying how environmental factors may be linked to the nutritional quality of a traditional food, and how this may influence AI/AN maternal health outcomes. In Specific Aim 1, we will determine if relationships exist between land use, traditional foods, and AI/AN maternal health by analytically integrating several publicly available government and foundation databases. In Specific Aim 2, we will determine if the nutritional content of a specific traditional food contributes to pregnancy outcomes by surveying Pacific salmon consumption in pregnant AI/AN mothers, and using super learners (machine learning technology) to: 1) develop a model describing the relationship between Pacific salmon-specific nutritional contributions to maternal diet and pregnancy outcome; and 2) apply the model developed to manipulated data to test if changes in Pacific salmon-specific nutritional contributions to maternal diet can influence maternal health outcome. We use Pacific salmon here because many AI/AN Tribes in our region have been consuming Pacific salmon as a vital traditional food from time immemorial. The research will be carried out with Washington State University community health centers such as the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, and in close collaboration and partnership with non-profits serving regional AI/AN Tribes. I will be guided by experts in the skills and techniques that I will gain training in. To enrich my research training, I will attend various workshops, seminar series, and scientific meetings to expand my professional network and prepare me as I transition to an independent scientist. Together, the research and training program developed will enhance the innovative potential of my future research and support my long-term goal of promoting pregnancy health.