182861 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Preconception Health Status and Behaviors: Findings from the Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) Survey

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Eunice Muthengi, MPH, MSW , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Fathima Wakeel, PhD , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Angie Denisse Otiniano, MPH , School of Public Health Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Luu Cortes Doan , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Karen M. Coller, PhD MPH , Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Michael C. Lu, MD, MPH , Department of Community Health Sciences and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Cynthia Harding, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Shin Margaret Chao, PhD, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Marian Eldahaby , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Giannina M. Donatoni, PhD, MT(ASCP) , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Yvonne Y. Lau, MPH, RD , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Chandra Higgins, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Diana E. Ramos, MD, MPH , Reproductive Health, Los Angeles County-Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
OBJECTIVE: To examine racial and ethnic disparities in preconception health status and behaviors. METHODS: We used data from the first wave of 2007 Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) Survey. LAMB is a mail sample survey with telephone follow-up for non-respondents based on multistage clustered design. Our preliminary analyses were based on the responses of 721 women with a live birth in 2007 in Los Angeles County. The relationship between race and ethnicity and preconception care health status and behaviors was examined using Pearson's chi square tests. RESULTS: Almost half of women surveyed reported being underweight or overweight, one in five reported problems with anxiety or depression, and half were not taking folic acid or multivitamin before pregnancy. Latina and African American (AA) women were more likely to be underweight or overweight than White or Asian/Pacific Islander (API) women. Latina women were more likely to report not taking folic acid or multivitamin compared to all other groups. Nearly one of three AA mothers had anemia compared to rates as low as 7% among White mothers. Preconception care use was low among mothers who smoked cigarettes, not taking folic acid or multivitamin, with gum or teeth problems, or anemia. Latinas (23%) and AA (24%) women with lower or high BMI were less likely to receive preconception care compared to other groups. Among women who were not taking folic acid or multivitamin, Latinas (6%) were least likely to receive preconception care. DISCUSSION: Significant racial-ethnic disparities in preconception health status and behaviors exist.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, the participants will be able to • Discuss the importance of preconception health status and behaviors to maternal health and pregnancy outcome; • Discuss disparities in preconception health status and behaviors by race-ethnicity and other sociodemographic characteristics; • Discuss missed opportunities to promote preconception health among women of color, especially those with preconception health problems.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I do not have a conflict of interest.
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.

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