Based on prior research around respiratory illnesses and pregnancy (pneumonia, sinusitis, cold, or flu), all infections can give a risk of issues to the fetus in utero, but so also can the social determinants of health combined with or in absence of. The social determinants of health encompass everything else around the birthing person that also affects their health and way of life (access to fresh food, access to healthcare, transportation, community, etc.). According to a 2017 study conducted by Samantha Parker and her colleagues, they found that 49.6% of pregnancies deal with some sort of upper respiratory infection either periconception or sometime during their pregnancy prior to delivery. Their study found that from birth to year three, cognitive function of the offspring was not affected significantly but there was an association with behavioral problems especially in birthing people who were exposed to a respiratory infection from 16-20 weeks and later.

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