141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

284698
Disparities in adverse preconception risk factors between women with and without disabilities


Monday, November 4, 2013

Monika Mitra, PhD, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Heller School of Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Jianying Zhang, MD, MPH, Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA
Alexis Henry, ScD, OTR/L, Disability, Health and Employment Policy Unit, Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA
Background: Women with disabilities are at an increased risk for poor birth outcomes including low birth weight and preterm birth. However little is known about the prevalence of preconception risk factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes among women with disabilities. This study examines the disability-related disparities in preconception risk factors including at-risk drinking, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and mental distress and further explores the prevalence of these factors among racial/ethnic minority women with disabilities.

Methods: 2009-10 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (n=115,361) data were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of these factors among nonpregnant women with and without disabilities.

Results: Disability prevalence was 13.7%. Approximately 75% of disabled women reported 1+ factors with 15% reporting 3+ risk factors. Almost 40% of women with disabilities were obese (38.2%, 95%CI 36.8-39.4) compared to 23.1% of nondisabled women (95%CI, 22.6-23.6) and 35% reported mental distress compared to 9.8% of nondisabled women(95%CI, 9.5-10.1). Disability-related disparities in smoking and diabetes were also found. In addition, Black non-Hispanic women with disabilities were more likely to obese (54.5%, 95%CI 50.5-58.4), have diabetes (16.1, 95%CI 13.5-18.6) and report mental distress (39.2%, 95%CI 35.4-42.9) compared to white, non-Hispanic disabled women (34.7%, 11.1%, 34.3% respectively). Hispanic women with disabilities were more likely to be obese (41.8%, 95%CI 37.6-46%) compared to white non-Hispanic disabled women.

Conclusion: These findings suggest women with disabilities are at a high risk for multiple preconception risk factors. Increasing research and attention is needed to improve preconception care for women with disabilities, particularly racial/ethnic minority women with disabilities.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate disparities in preconception risk factors between women with and without disabilities. Document prevalence of obesity, mental distress, alcohol use, smoking and diabetes among nonpregnant women with disabilities, ages 18-44. Analyze disparities in preconception care among racial and ethnic minority women with disabilities.

Keyword(s): Prenatal Care, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a principal investigator for an NIH grant on health needs and barriers to perinatal care for women with disabilities. My research interests include health inequities between people with disabilities and the general population, the epidemiology of secondary conditions among persons with disabilities, and issues related to health of women with disabilities around the time of pregnancy.
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.

Back to: 3303.1: Social Determinants of Maternal & Child Health Poster Session