Dataset Information

The Great Recession and adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from California, USA.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Prior studies of the health effects of recessions have shown mixed results. Ecological studies often report a positive relationship between economic downturns and population health while individual-level studies often show that conditions related to recessions are deleterious. Our study examines the spatially and temporally heterogenous effects of the Great Recession (TGR) on adverse birth outcomes, a contemporaneous measure of population health that is highly responsive to changing social conditions.

Methods

We use restricted birth cohort data from California (2004-2012) merged with both county- and tract-level socio-demographic data, to explore birth selectivity and temporal and unemployment effects during TGR on adverse birth outcomes.

Results

We find that gestational exposure - more specifically, second trimester exposure - during or adjacent to the months of TGR was generally deleterious for birth outcomes, more so, in some cases, for mothers with lower levels of education, and that increases in county-level unemployment were generally deleterious for birth outcomes.

Conclusions

Although recessionary effects on population health are problematic and may have far-reaching effects, it appears that these effects may be largely universal, even given potential selective fertility favoring advantaged groups.

SUBMITTER: Finch BK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6804518 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Great Recession and adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from California, USA.

Finch Brian Karl BK Thomas Kyla K Beck Audrey N AN

SSM - population health 20190818

<h4>Objectives</h4>Prior studies of the health effects of recessions have shown mixed results. Ecological studies often report a positive relationship between economic downturns and population health while individual-level studies often show that conditions related to recessions are deleterious. Our study examines the spatially and temporally heterogenous effects of the Great Recession (TGR) on adverse birth outcomes, a contemporaneous measure of population health that is highly responsive to ch ...[more]

PMID: 31649996

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundPrevious studies have linked exposure to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) with various health outcomes. However, relatively few studies evaluated the impacts of CAFOs on adverse birth outcomes, despite significant public health concerns regarding maternal and child health.ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study investigated the risk of adverse birth outcomes associated with CAFOs exposure and evaluated disparities in exposure to CAFOs and associated health outcomes.MethodsWe obtained individual-level birth records from 2003 to 2020 from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We considered two adverse birth outcomes: (1) preterm birth (PTB); and (2) low birth weight (LBW). Exposure was considered as a binary indicator (presence or absence of CAFO) and as categories based on level of exposure. Logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between CAFOs exposure and adverse birth outcomes. Models were adjusted for infant's sex, maternal demographics (age, race/ethnicity, education), prenatal BMI, prenatal care, smoking status, marital status, plurality, WIC status, and urban/rural indicator. We examined both disparities in exposure and in health response.ResultsPresence of CAFOs was associated with higher risk of PTB, with an increasing trend with higher levels of CAFOs exposure. Compared to the no CAFO exposure group, the odds ratios for PTB were 1.022 (95 % confidence interval 1.003, 1.043), 1.066 (1.034, 1.100), 1.069 (1.042, 1.097) for low, medium, and high CAFOs exposure groups, respectively. Some maternal characteristics were associated with a higher CAFO-related risk of PTB. Similar associations were observed for LBW for some characteristics such as mother's race/ethnicity, education, WIC status, and urbanicity, although some findings were not statistically significant.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that presence of CAFOs increases risk of preterm birth. Our results indicate that some maternal characteristics may be associated with higher risk of CAFO-related PTB or LBW. This study can inform future research on disparities in CAFO exposure and associated health burden.

Dataset Information

The Great Recession and adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from California, USA.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The Great Recession and adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from California, USA.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets