259071 Adverse Birth Outcomes among Adolescents in the San Joaquin Valley: Impact of Prenatal Care, Education and Race-Ethnicity

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Brittany Chambers, MPHc , Central California Center for Health and Human Services, Central Valley Health Policy Institute, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA
Marlene Bengiamin, PhD , Central Valley Health Policy Institute, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
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.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the impact of prenatal care, mother’s education, racial/ethnicity/nativity, and insurance on adolescents experiencing low birth weight and preterm births in the San Joaquin Valley.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Birth Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a Masters of Public Health student and have been working under the supervision of Dr. Bengiamin who is Senior Research Associate at the Central Valley Health Policy Institute that has received local and federal grants focusing on the social determinants of health for birth outcomes, obesity, air quality, and place matters in the San Joaquin Valley. My interest is identifying determinants of adverse birth outcomes experienced by adolescents.
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.