Characteristics of 98 low-income women in a Philadelphia Postpartum Weight Retention Study

Rates of maternal obesity are high among low-income minority women, placing women and their children at risk for negative health outcomes. Postpartum weight retention (PPWR) is a key factor leading to increased rates of maternal and childhood obesity, however causes remain unclear. The Postpartum Weight Retention Study seeks to identify the predictors of PPWR in a cohort of low-income women receiving services from a Philadelphia community-based outreach and advocacy agency, the Maternity Care Coalition (MCC). MCC's signature program, MOMobile, uses community health workers to provide direct in-home service to pregnant families. 98 women were enrolled between July 1-December 31, 2008. The primary endpoint of PPWR will be collected one year post delivery. Preliminary analysis at 2-6 weeks postpartum shows mean (SD) age of mothers was 24.6(5.7) years with 7% white, 66% black, and 22% Hispanic. 38% of women had to travel farther than 15 blocks to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, 88% women reported they didn't know how to cook healthy meals, and mean(SD) cups of vegetables eaten per day was 1.6(0.99). Mean (SD) television-viewing minutes per day was 257(329), with Hispanic women watching more television than other groups (464(2.1) minutes vs. 165.8(2.4) minutes for black women and 174(1.6) for white women, p<0.001). Preliminary results suggest a need for culturally appropriate attention to healthy habits during pregnancy and beyond. At one year post delivery, we will re-evaluate barriers to healthy eating, postpartum depression, nutrition knowledge, and body mass index (BMI) in preparation for a larger planned weight loss intervention study.