Ralph Catalano

While a number of studies have shown that the health of Latinos in the U.S. has suffered since the 2016 election, a new one co-authored by public health professor Ralph Catalano, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has found that Latina women's rates of premature birth have increased unexpectedly since then. The study is notable because births provide hard data, unlike other illnesses, such as depression or stress, and it's alarming because premature birth is the most significant contributor to infant mortality. While the researchers note in their findings that the increase occurred after the election, they acknowledge the coincidence is not proof that the election or anti-immigration policies enacted shortly afterward caused the increase. However, experts do point out that the study aligns with a growing number of studies indicating very troubling health trends. The study is available at Jama Network.