"Rising inequality of infant health in the U.S." by David Rangel and Emily Rauscher was published in the journal Social Science & Medicine — Population Health.

New research co-conducted by Assistant Professor of Education David Rangel and Associate Professor of Sociology Emily Rauscher (Brown University), finds that after several decades of narrowing inequality in infant health, it's on the rise again and could foreshadow "a rise in health and social inequity that could last for decades." 

"The trend is a concern, Rauscher and Rangel explained, because multiple studies have shown that when infants are born underweight or more than three weeks before their due date, they may face health complications that could affect mental, physical and economic well-being for years to come. Those health complications are more likely to occur in infants born to mothers who face social and economic disadvantages, studies show, because they are more likely to experience high levels of stress, live in areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food and come into contact with harmful chemicals in places where they live and work."

Infant health inequality has increased since 2010, study finds — News from Brown