Dara D Mendez
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 165783 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Dara D Mendez |
| NOMBRES | Dara D |
| APELLIDO | Mendez |
| FIRMA | MENDEZ D D |
| AFILIACIONES | University of Pittsburgh |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3999-1991 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 23 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 27 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 23 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2013 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
“A lot of hoops … to jump through”
Introduction Doula care is cost effective and improves maternal and child health, especially for Medicaid enrollees. Many states reimburse doula care through Medicaid, but coverage varies and it is unclear how doulas have experienced these Medicaid changes. Methods Researchers conducted 16 focus groups with 58 doulas in 4 states with reimbursement and 2 without reimbursement. Transcripts were analyzed using memoing, deductive and inductive coding…
Perceived Barriers to Accessing Clinical Resources for Chronic Illnesses in Residents of Black Communities in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Doulas as Facilitators to Black Birthing People’s Needs in Pennsylvania in the Context of Medicaid Coverage
Introduction: Longstanding racial inequities in maternal mortality require tailored approaches to improving outcomes for Black birthing people. Doulas provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support and have been shown to improve perinatal outcomes, particularly for Black birthing people. In response, some states have implemented Medicaid doula benefits. In January 2025, Pennsylvania—where ∼35% of births are Medicaid-covered—lau…
Doula and Community Health Worker Support for Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence Survivors
Introduction: The perinatal period is a dangerous time for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Doulas and community health workers (CHWs) serving perinatal people and their infants provide resources and support for survivors experiencing IPV. This study aimed to explore (1) current practices of doulas and CHWs for addressing IPV among their clients, (2) barriers and facilitators to supporting survivors, and (3) needed resources. Methods…
MCO Perspectives on Medicaid Policy
Introduction: In 2020 and 2021, Pennsylvania implemented the Equity Incentive Program and the Maternity Care Bundled Payment program, two unique pay-for-performance (P4P) programs that provide financial incentives for managed care organizations (MCOs) that make improvements in utilization and quality metrics for Black women and children. The current study addresses gaps in the research about MCO perceptions regarding the ability of financial poli…
Correlates of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake in Black Adults Residing in Allegheny County, PA
Introduction: Efforts to address vaccine uptake and access among black adults will be relevant for continued coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) eradication efforts and can be transferable to other prevention efforts in future pandemics. This study investigated factors related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and access among black residents in Allegheny County, PA. Methods: Surveys were administered electronically from October 2021 to January 2022 to …
A Comprehensive, Community-Based Coalition to Address Racial Disparities in Chronic Disease
This comprehensive evaluation approach supports formative processes, evaluation metrics, and prolonged sustainability plans of this community-based coalition
Longitudinal profiles of neighborhood socioeconomic vulnerability influence blood pressure changes across the female midlife period
The wear and tear of racism
Applications of an Equity Framework in Covid-19 Vaccine Trial and Distribution Planning
There are a disproportionate number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among Black and Latinx communities, a result of a history of structural racism and exploitation. An equity framework and approach are critical but have been lacking in the COVID-19 response, including vaccine dissemination. We provide an overview and application of remove, repair, remediate, restructure, and provide (R4P), an equity framework, in examining COVID-19 vaccine…
Stress, social support, and racial differences
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for 6 months; however, many childbearing people wean their infants before 6 months. Psychosocial factors such as stress, social support and race are significant determinants of breastfeeding; however, few studies have longitudinally explored the effect of perceived stress and various forms of social support on exclusive breastfeeding. We used quantitative methodologies to examine exclusive breastfeeding, per…
Syndemics of Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Sample of Racially Diverse Pregnant Young Women
Racism as Public Health Crisis
Racism in the United States has been cited as a key driver of racial health inequities. Racism as a public health crisis has been in the forefront, particularly with respect to state and municipal governments that have developed legislation, resolutions, and declarations. This policy brief includes a review of resolutions and declarations across the US related to Racism as a Public Health Crisis through the end of September 2020. There were 125 r…
A Decade of Drinking
Beer remains the greatest source of per capita alcohol consumption in the United States, and increasing market availability and consumer demand for higher alcohol has meaningful public health consequences. Objectives: To determine whether apparent alcohol intake from beer changed among households over time, we used nationally-representative US Nielsen Consumer Panel purchasing data from 2004 to 2014, and incorporated information on percent alcoho…
Naming Silence and Inadequate Obstetric Care as Obstetric Violence is a Necessary Step for Change
This response article addresses the questions raised in "How Gentle Must Violence Against Women be in Order to not be Violent? Rethinking the Word 'Violence; in Obstetric Settings" and concludes that naming violence is critical for describing people's experiences of such violence and for addressing the structures and contexts that create and fuel such violence, not for judgment but for accountability and change.
Racial Differences in the Biochemical Effects of Stress in Pregnancy
Prenatal stress has been linked to preterm birth via inflammatory dysregulation. We conducted a cross-sectional study on female participants who delivered live, singleton infants at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee Women's Hospital. Participants ( n = 200) were stratified by cumulative risk scores using a combination of individual factors (maternal education, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, relationship status, obesity, depression) …
Experiences of Community Doulas Working with Low-Income, African American Mothers
Purpose: The aim of this study was to learn from doulas the components of their services that might best serve low-income, African American (AA) women and to show the significance of doulas in helping these women have healthy, positive, birth experiences. Methods: Ten doulas were recruited from a local community doula program and through word-of-mouth referrals from participants and completed in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed verba…
MCH Workforce Capacity
Objectives A skilled workforce is essential to advancing maternal and child health (MCH) in a rapidly changing public health system. Little is known about the MCH workforce's existing capacity to maximize opportunities afforded by ongoing change. We assessed MCH workforce capacity in three areas: Systems Integration, Evidence-Based Decision-Making, and Change Management/Adaptive Leadership. We then examined associations between workforce capacity…
Evaluation of a Mobile Farmer's Market Aimed at Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Food Deserts
Purpose: In November 2015, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank implemented a pilot phase of the Green Grocer mobile market, a program aimed at improving access to locally sourced fresh foods in low-resource neighborhoods. We conducted an evaluation of this pilot phase. Methods: We conducted baseline surveys of residents in six neighborhoods that received Green Grocer in the pilot phase to understand the food environment, including perceptions …
Neighborhood racial composition and poverty in association with pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain
Neighborhood racial composition and poverty may be important in understanding racial differences in weight among childbearing women
Neighborhood Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in the Food and Alcohol Environment
Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Gestational Weight Gain and Loss
Institutional racism, neighborhood factors, stress, and preterm birth
Residential redlining as a form institutional racism and neighborhood characteristic may be important for understanding racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy and preterm birth
Institutional racism, neighborhood factors, stress, and preterm birth
Residential redlining as a form institutional racism and neighborhood characteristic may be important for understanding racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy and preterm birth
The wear and tear of racism
Naming Silence and Inadequate Obstetric Care as Obstetric Violence is a Necessary Step for Change
This response article addresses the questions raised in "How Gentle Must Violence Against Women be in Order to not be Violent? Rethinking the Word 'Violence; in Obstetric Settings" and concludes that naming violence is critical for describing people's experiences of such violence and for addressing the structures and contexts that create and fuel such violence, not for judgment but for accountability and change.
Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Gestational Weight Gain and Loss
Institutional racism, neighborhood factors, stress, and preterm birth
Residential redlining as a form institutional racism and neighborhood characteristic may be important for understanding racial/ethnic disparities in pregnancy and preterm birth
Neighborhood racial composition and poverty in association with pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain
Neighborhood racial composition and poverty may be important in understanding racial differences in weight among childbearing women
Neighborhood Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in the Food and Alcohol Environment
Evaluation of a Mobile Farmer's Market Aimed at Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Food Deserts
Purpose: In November 2015, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank implemented a pilot phase of the Green Grocer mobile market, a program aimed at improving access to locally sourced fresh foods in low-resource neighborhoods. We conducted an evaluation of this pilot phase. Methods: We conducted baseline surveys of residents in six neighborhoods that received Green Grocer in the pilot phase to understand the food environment, including perceptions …
Experiences of Community Doulas Working with Low-Income, African American Mothers
Purpose: The aim of this study was to learn from doulas the components of their services that might best serve low-income, African American (AA) women and to show the significance of doulas in helping these women have healthy, positive, birth experiences. Methods: Ten doulas were recruited from a local community doula program and through word-of-mouth referrals from participants and completed in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed verba…
MCH Workforce Capacity
Objectives A skilled workforce is essential to advancing maternal and child health (MCH) in a rapidly changing public health system. Little is known about the MCH workforce's existing capacity to maximize opportunities afforded by ongoing change. We assessed MCH workforce capacity in three areas: Systems Integration, Evidence-Based Decision-Making, and Change Management/Adaptive Leadership. We then examined associations between workforce capacity…
Racial Differences in the Biochemical Effects of Stress in Pregnancy
Prenatal stress has been linked to preterm birth via inflammatory dysregulation. We conducted a cross-sectional study on female participants who delivered live, singleton infants at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee Women's Hospital. Participants ( n = 200) were stratified by cumulative risk scores using a combination of individual factors (maternal education, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, relationship status, obesity, depression) …
Racism as Public Health Crisis
Racism in the United States has been cited as a key driver of racial health inequities. Racism as a public health crisis has been in the forefront, particularly with respect to state and municipal governments that have developed legislation, resolutions, and declarations. This policy brief includes a review of resolutions and declarations across the US related to Racism as a Public Health Crisis through the end of September 2020. There were 125 r…
A Decade of Drinking
Beer remains the greatest source of per capita alcohol consumption in the United States, and increasing market availability and consumer demand for higher alcohol has meaningful public health consequences. Objectives: To determine whether apparent alcohol intake from beer changed among households over time, we used nationally-representative US Nielsen Consumer Panel purchasing data from 2004 to 2014, and incorporated information on percent alcoho…
Naming Silence and Inadequate Obstetric Care as Obstetric Violence is a Necessary Step for Change
This response article addresses the questions raised in "How Gentle Must Violence Against Women be in Order to not be Violent? Rethinking the Word 'Violence; in Obstetric Settings" and concludes that naming violence is critical for describing people's experiences of such violence and for addressing the structures and contexts that create and fuel such violence, not for judgment but for accountability and change.
Applications of an Equity Framework in Covid-19 Vaccine Trial and Distribution Planning
There are a disproportionate number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among Black and Latinx communities, a result of a history of structural racism and exploitation. An equity framework and approach are critical but have been lacking in the COVID-19 response, including vaccine dissemination. We provide an overview and application of remove, repair, remediate, restructure, and provide (R4P), an equity framework, in examining COVID-19 vaccine…
Stress, social support, and racial differences
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for 6 months; however, many childbearing people wean their infants before 6 months. Psychosocial factors such as stress, social support and race are significant determinants of breastfeeding; however, few studies have longitudinally explored the effect of perceived stress and various forms of social support on exclusive breastfeeding. We used quantitative methodologies to examine exclusive breastfeeding, per…
Syndemics of Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Sample of Racially Diverse Pregnant Young Women
Correlates of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake in Black Adults Residing in Allegheny County, PA
Introduction: Efforts to address vaccine uptake and access among black adults will be relevant for continued coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) eradication efforts and can be transferable to other prevention efforts in future pandemics. This study investigated factors related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and access among black residents in Allegheny County, PA. Methods: Surveys were administered electronically from October 2021 to January 2022 to …
A Comprehensive, Community-Based Coalition to Address Racial Disparities in Chronic Disease
This comprehensive evaluation approach supports formative processes, evaluation metrics, and prolonged sustainability plans of this community-based coalition
Longitudinal profiles of neighborhood socioeconomic vulnerability influence blood pressure changes across the female midlife period
The wear and tear of racism
MCO Perspectives on Medicaid Policy
Introduction: In 2020 and 2021, Pennsylvania implemented the Equity Incentive Program and the Maternity Care Bundled Payment program, two unique pay-for-performance (P4P) programs that provide financial incentives for managed care organizations (MCOs) that make improvements in utilization and quality metrics for Black women and children. The current study addresses gaps in the research about MCO perceptions regarding the ability of financial poli…
“A lot of hoops … to jump through”
Introduction Doula care is cost effective and improves maternal and child health, especially for Medicaid enrollees. Many states reimburse doula care through Medicaid, but coverage varies and it is unclear how doulas have experienced these Medicaid changes. Methods Researchers conducted 16 focus groups with 58 doulas in 4 states with reimbursement and 2 without reimbursement. Transcripts were analyzed using memoing, deductive and inductive coding…
Perceived Barriers to Accessing Clinical Resources for Chronic Illnesses in Residents of Black Communities in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Doulas as Facilitators to Black Birthing People’s Needs in Pennsylvania in the Context of Medicaid Coverage
Introduction: Longstanding racial inequities in maternal mortality require tailored approaches to improving outcomes for Black birthing people. Doulas provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support and have been shown to improve perinatal outcomes, particularly for Black birthing people. In response, some states have implemented Medicaid doula benefits. In January 2025, Pennsylvania—where ∼35% of births are Medicaid-covered—lau…
Doula and Community Health Worker Support for Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence Survivors
Introduction: The perinatal period is a dangerous time for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Doulas and community health workers (CHWs) serving perinatal people and their infants provide resources and support for survivors experiencing IPV. This study aimed to explore (1) current practices of doulas and CHWs for addressing IPV among their clients, (2) barriers and facilitators to supporting survivors, and (3) needed resources. Methods…
Medicine (17 obras) · Demography (10 obras) · Environmental health (9 obras) · Demography (8 obras) · Gerontology (7 obras) · Sociology (7 obras) · Business (6 obras) · Political science (6 obras) · Psychology (6 obras) · Public health (6 obras)