5022.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - Board 7

Abstract #6289

Intergenerational and environmental factors influencing pregnancy outcomes

Aunyika Tocharoen, PhD, MSPH1, Shirley J. Thompson, PhD1, Cheryl L. Addy, PhD1, Roger G. Sargent, PhD1, Robert G. Best, PhD2, and Hylan D. Shoob, PhD, MSPH1. (1) School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Columbia, SC 29208, (803)790-0587, TOCHARAU@COLUMB63.DHEC.STATE.SC.US, (2) School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia, SC 29203

Factors that relate to the mother's own course of growth and development might influence later reproductive performances. This study examines the effect of maternal birth weight and maternal height and maternal weight gain, on term-small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm delivery using data from the South Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and birth certificate files for 1993-1995. Maternal birth weight was strongly associated with term SGA (OR=3.65; 95% CI=1.83, 7.29), but not preterm delivery among black mothers; it was associated with preterm delivery (OR=1.86; 95% CI=1.09, 3.17), but not term-SGA for white mothers. Maternal birth weight was associated with term SGA among nonsmokers only (OR=2.34; 95% CI=1.33,4.11). Maternal weight gain modified the effect of height on birth outcomes. Among women with inadequate weight gain, there was a 3-fold increase in risk for term-SGA (OR=3.06; 95% CI=2.41, 3.89) for short maternal height, but not for preterm delivery. Among women with adequate plus weight gain, the association between short maternal height and term-SGA was 2.27 (95% CI=0.55, 9.43) compared to 3.67 (95% CI=0.1.41, 9.56) between short maternal height and preterm delivery. Maternal weight gain also modified the effect of maternal height on both outcomes for black mothers and for nonsmokers only. Findings indicate the need for interventions directed to those women who can benefit most from appropriate targeted weight gain recommendations. Therefore, prevention methods should be implemented to encourage short stature women to gain adequate weight during pregnancy.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to: 1. Examine the association between maternal birth weight and height and the adverse pregnancy outcomes of term-SGA and preterm deliveries and to determine whether maternal weight gain modifies these associations. 2.Identify that maternal birth weight and maternal height should be included in perinatal risk assessment and that high risk women (ie. short stature women) should be targeted for appropriate weight gain interventions. 3.Articulate that mother's own course of growth and development might influence later reproductive performances

Keywords: Pregnancy Outcomes, MCH Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA