This study examined the impact of residential segregation on neighborhood economic indicators, neighborhood quality, access to health care, and individual perinatal risk factors and subsequent birthweight among Black and White women who gave birth in New York City during 1991-1992. A dataset was constructed that included individual, neighborhood, and borough-level variables. Individual demographic and prenatal risk factors for poor birth outcome were used, as well as neighborhood economic, racial/ethnic, health care access, and neighborhood quality factors. Residential segregation indices were measured for NYC and the boroughs. Logistic regression models predicted the log odds of low birthweight controlling for neighborhood and individual risk. This study found that persistently high residential segregation of Blacks and Whites has put Black women at an ecological disadvantage compared to Whites. While the effects of neighborhood disadvantage on low birthweight were modest low birthweight was subject to neighborhood and individual influences. Among women who gave birth in the Bronx, indications of inadequate primary health care in the neighborhood were significantly associated with low birthweight, and in Queens living in a very low income neighborhood was significantly associated with low birthweight for Black women. At the individual level, being uninsured and smoking were significantly associated with low birthweight for Blacks.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe trends in residential segregation in NYC and in each borough. 2. List the neighborhood and individual risk factors that were significantly associated with low birthweight in NYC and each borough. 3. Discuss residential segregation and subsequent social inequalities in NYC that place black women compared to white women at greater risk for poor birth outcomes
Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Social Inequalities
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.