McNair Scholar 2019 Lizeth A. Diaz Rodriguez
Lizeth A. Diaz Rodriguez is a senior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, majoring in Psychology. Her research interests involve exploring specific needs related to maternal and child health as well as health risks members of vulnerable groups experience. She plans on obtaining an MSN degree after graduation.
My dream is to work as an RN in a community health center where I will utilize my graduate education to provide quality and informed primary and preventative care to underserved populations. I would like to continue being involved in some capacity with research that explores health disparities experienced by various vulnerable populations.
Research project
Health Status and Health Care of Infants Born to Incarcerated Women
Abstract: This study examined caregivers’ experiences providing care and accessing healthcare for infants born to incarcerated women in one state prison. Since little is known about the health outcomes of children born to incarcerated women, the aim of this study was to narrow the gap within existing literature concerned with the intersection of child health and maternal incarceration. Our findings are specific to the child’s first year of life, as this has been a largely unexplored domain. The majority (55%) of our participants reported infants under their care to be in excellent health. Additionally, all participants reported there was never a time the child needed healthcare but did not receive it during the child’s first year of life. We urge future work to be done with this population in order to investigate whether or not these findings hold true later in life.
Faculty mentor
Rebecca J. Shlafer, PhD, MPH is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics (Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health) at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Shlafer received her PhD in Child Development and MPH in Maternal and Child Health at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on developmental outcomes for children and families with multiple risk factors, children with parents in prison, and the programs and policies which impact families affected by incarceration.