177055 Food insecurity and birth outcomes in Oregon women

Monday, October 27, 2008

Jacqueline T. Yates, BS , Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
Kenneth D. Rosenberg, MD, MPH , Office of Family Health, Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, OR
Elizabeth Adams, PhD, RD , Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR
Dawn Peters, PhD , Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
Background: Recent studies suggest that food insecurity may be a factor in pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight. It is uncertain whether food insecurity during pregnancy causes other outcomes. We examined this question in a large population-based observational survey of postpartum women. In this analysis, we examined a single measure of food insecurity for possible associations with birth outcomes including preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation.

Methods: The Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a stratified random sample of Oregon birthing women who have recently had a live birth. Oregon PRAMS asked new mothers whether, in the 12 months before birth, they ever ate less than they felt they should because there wasn't enough money to buy food. Gestational age and birth weight data were obtained from birth certificate records. Bivariate logistic analysis was performed on all factors to determine associations.

Results: Of 1915 women surveyed who had live births in 2005, 11.3% reported having experienced at least one episode of food insecurity. 16.1% of women with food insecurity had a preterm delivery (gestational age < 37 weeks). Compared to women who did not report food insecurity, women who reported food insecurity had a statistically non-significant increase in preterm delivery (OR 1.85; 95% CI, 0.93, 3.63). 14.0% of women with food insecurity had a baby with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR; birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age). Compared to women who did not report food insecurity, women who reported food insecurity had a statistically non-significant increase in IUGR (OR 1.47; 95% CI: 0.62, 3.48).

Discussion: Women who reported food insecurity in the 12 months prior to delivery were not significantly more likely to have either a preterm delivery or a child with intrauterine growth retardation.

Learning Objectives:
1. To increase awareness among health and public health professionals about food insecurity. 2. To provide information about preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation 3. To provide context for the finding that the association between food insecurity and birth outcomes is not statistically significant

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: The work described in the abstract was conducted, as an exercise to complete my MPH degree.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.