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Abstract #161293

Margaret N. Torres-Vazquez, MS, Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, (787)758-2525 (x- 1400, 1427), mntorres@stu.rcm.upr.edu, Linnette Rodriguez-Figueroa, MS, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, Gilberto Ramos-Valencia, DrPH, Department of Biostatistics, University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936, and Cruz M. Nazario, PhD, School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067.

Low birth weight (LBW) is the principal cause of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, and has been associated with the development of certain chronic diseases later in life. Recent studies suggest that stressful life events (SLE) experienced by the mother during pregnancy are potential risk factors for premature and LBW babies, but this association has not been evaluated in Puerto Rico. This study evaluates the association between having experienced SLE during pregnancy and LBW of the neonates born in Puerto Rico between July 1999 and May 2000. This is a secondary data analysis of a matched case-control study entitled "Risk Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight in Puerto Rico". The population under study is a probabilistic sample representative of the mothers who gave birth from July 1999 thru May 2000 in one of 28 hospitals randomly selected from the 6 health regions in Puerto Rico. Babies whose birth weight was below 5.5 pounds were defined as cases (n=718); those whose weight was above 5.5 pounds were defined as controls (n=718). Mothers of LBW babies reported having experienced more SLE overall compared to mothers whose babies weighted more than 5.5 pounds. After classifying stressful life events as emotional, financial, partner-associated and traumatic, mothers who experienced traumatic stressors during pregnancy have a significantly higher probability of having a LBW baby (OR: 1.464, CI 95%: [1.142-1.877], p-value: 0.003) compared to mothers who did not experienced this kind of stressor. Screening for SLE have to be incorporated in the prenatal care protocol.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify what kind of stressful life events experienced by the mother during pregnancy are potential risk factors for low birth weight babies.
• Recognize that screening for stressful life events should be incorporated in the prenatal care protocol to allow an early identification of high risk pregnancies.

Keywords: Low Birthweight, Stress

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.