Adverse Birth Outcomes among Adolescents in the San Joaquin Valley: Impact of Prenatal Care, Education and Race-Ethnicity

Background. Adolescent pregnancy has been an issue of concern in the U.S., specifically in the San Joaquin Valley, due to adverse birth outcomes experienced by both mother and child. This study investigated the roles of prenatal care (PNC), education, racial/ethnicity/nativity, and insurance differences in adolescents experiencing low-birth weight and preterm birth in the San Joaquin Valley. Methods. The California Birth Files 2002-2004 were used in this study where eight counties were extracted then limited to women under the age of 19. Independent variables are payment for PNC, race/ethnicity, education, age, place of birth, rural/urban, and PNC. Dependent variables are low-birth weight and preterm birth. Results. Adolescents who received no PNC were 14 times more likely to experience low-birth weight and 5 times more likely to experience a preterm birth. Adolescents seeking PNC during any phase of pregnancy were approximately 2 times more likely to experience a preterm birth. Adolescents who had less than a high school diploma were more likely to experience low-birth weight and/or a preterm birth. Additionally, adolescents that initiated late PNC (Kessner) were more likely to experience low-birth weight. Lastly, source of payment for PNC and race/ethnicity decreased the likelihood of having a low-birth weight and/or preterm infant. Conclusion. These findings suggest that there is a strong relationship between adverse birth outcomes, adequate PNC, and education. However, the data shows that there might be additional factors beyond variables investigated in this study that contribute to adolescents experiencing preterm births.