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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Meredith Tabangin, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 831 Westover Avenue, #1, Norfolk, VA 23507, 757-623-2780, tabangin@evms.edu
Background. Previous studies suggest numerous factors that contribute to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Examining size and weight and their relationship to neonatal morbidity and mortality may be one link to improving infant health. Objectives. The study objective was to assess relationships between the following characteristics: 1) prenatal care and birthweight; 2) prenatal care and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR); 3) birthweight and survival; and 4) IUGR and survival, in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population. Methods. This prospective cohort study included 572 infants admitted in 2000 to the NICU in an urban children’s hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. Data was collected from computerized transcriptions of hospital medical records. Chi-square tests for independence were used to correlate each predictor and outcome. Results. Infants born to mothers with minimal or no prenatal care had a 33% increased risk of low birthweight compared to infants born to mothers with routine prenatal care [Risk ratio (RR): 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15,1.55]. Low birthweight infants who were also pre-term had a 12% decreased risk of survival, whereas low birthweight, full term infants had a 6% increased risk of survival, when compared to infants with normal birthweight [RR: 0.8927, CI: 0.8361, 0.9352] and [RR: 1.069, CI: 1.030,1.111], respectively. Conclusions. This evidence supports findings that prenatal care helps reduce infant morbidity and mortality. Future studies may examine other characteristics of growth and growth restriction and other variables that affect neonatal morbidity and mortality in order to help plan and implement more efficient and effective intervention programs.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant should be able to
Keywords: Birth Outcomes, Mortality
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.