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Infant birthweight in the US: the role of preconception stressful life events and substance use.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among preconception stressful life events (PSLEs), women's alcohol and tobacco use before and during pregnancy, and infant birthweight. Data were from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n = 9,350). Data were collected in 2001. Exposure to PSLEs was defined by indications of death of a parent, spouse, or previous live born child; divorce or marital separation; or fertility problems prior to conception. Survey data determined alcohol and tobacco usage during the 3 months prior to and in the final 3 months of pregnancy. We used staged multivariable logistic regression to estimate the effects of women's substance use and PSLEs on the risk of having a very low (<1,500 g, VLBW) or low (1,500-2,499 g, LBW) birthweight infant, adjusting for confounders. Women who experienced any PSLE were more likely to give birth to VLBW infants (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.35; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-1.66) than women who did not experience any PSLE. Compared to women who never smoked, women who smoked prior to conception (AOR = 1.31; 95 % CI = 1.04-1.66) or during their last trimester (AOR = 1.98; 95 % CI = 1.56-2.52) were more likely to give birth to LBW infants. PSLEs and women's tobacco use before and during pregnancy are independent risk factors for having a lower birthweight baby. Interventions to improve birth outcomes may need to address women's health and health behaviors in the preconception period.

SUBMITTER: Witt WP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5570463 | biostudies-other | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Investment in strategies to promote 'a healthy start to life' has been identified as having the greatest potential to reduce health inequalities across the life course. The aim of this study was to examine social determinants of low birthweight in an Australian population-based birth cohort and consider implications for health policy and health care systems. METHODS: Population-based survey distributed by hospitals and home birth practitioners to >8000 women six months after childbirth in two states of Australia. Participants were women who gave birth to a liveborn infant in Victoria and South Australia in September/October 2007. Main outcome measures included stressful life events and social health issues, perceived discrimination in health care settings, infant birthweight. RESULTS: 4,366/8468 (52%) of eligible women returned completed surveys. Two-thirds (2912/4352) reported one or more stressful life events or social health issues during pregnancy. Women reporting three or more social health issues (18%, 768/4352) were significantly more likely to have a low birthweight infant (< 2500 grams) after controlling for smoking and other socio-demographic covariates (Adj OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.1-2.8). Mothers born overseas in non-English speaking countries also had a higher risk of having a low birthweight infant (Adj OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.2-2.9). Women reporting three or more stressful life events/social health issues were more likely to attend antenatal care later in pregnancy (OR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.3-3.1), to have fewer antenatal visits (OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.4-3.4) and to experience discrimination in health care settings (OR = 2.69, 95% CI 2.2-3.3). CONCLUSIONS: There is a window of opportunity in antenatal care to implement targeted preventive interventions addressing potentially modifiable risk factors for poor maternal and infant outcomes. Developing the evidence base and infrastructure necessary in order for antenatal services to respond effectively to the social circumstances of women's lives is long overdue.

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Infant birthweight in the US: the role of preconception stressful life events and substance use.

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