Top

Published in:

01-01-2011

Changing Trends in Low Birth Weight Rates Among Non-Hispanic Black Infants in the United States, 1991–2004

Authors: Cynthia Ferré, Arden Handler, Jason Hsia, Wanda Barfield, James W. Collins Jr

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

We examined trends in low birth weight (LBW, <2,500 g) rates among US singleton non-Hispanic black infants between 1991 and 2004. We conducted Joinpoint regression analyses, using birth certificate data, to describe trends in LBW, moderately LBW (MLBW, 1,500–2,499 g), and very LBW (VLBW, <1,500 g) rates. We then conducted cross-sectional and binomial regression analyses to relate these trends to changes in maternal or obstetric factors. Non-Hispanic black LBW rates declined −7.35% between 1991 and 2001 and then increased +4.23% through 2004. The LBW trends were not uniform across birth weight subcategories. Among MLBW births, the 1991–2001 decease was −10.20%; the 2001–2004 increase was +5.61%. VLBW did not follow this pattern, increasing +3.84% between 1991 and 1999 and then remaining relatively stable through 2004. In adjusted models, the 1991–2001 MLBW rate decrease was associated with changes in first-trimester prenatal care, cigarette smoking, education levels, maternal foreign-born status, and pregnancy weight gain. The 2001–2004 MLBW rate increase was independent of changes in observed maternal demographic characteristics, prenatal care, and obstetric variables. Between 1991 and 2001, progress occurred in reducing MLBW rates among non-Hispanic black infants. This progress was not maintained between 2001 and 2004 nor did it occur for VLBW infants between 1991 and 2004. Observed population changes in maternal socio-demographic and health-related factors were associated with the 1991–2001 decrease, suggesting multiple risk factors need to be simultaneously addressed to reduce non-Hispanic black LBW rates.

Institute of Medicine, Committee to Study the Prevention of Low Birthweight, Board on Health Sciences Policy. (2007). Preterm birth: Causes, consequences, and prevention. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Martin, J. A., et al. (2006). Births: Final data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports, 55(1), 1–101.

Collins, J. W, Jr, & David, R. J. (2009). Racial disparity in low birth weight and infant mortality. Clinics in Perinatology, 36(1), 63–73.CrossRefPubMed

Barker, D. J. (2006). Adult consequences of fetal growth restriction. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 49(2), 270–283.CrossRefPubMed

Institute of Medicine, Committee to Study the Prevention of Low Birthweight. (1985). Preventing low birthweight. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1999). Preterm singleton births—United States, 1989–1996. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 48(9), 185–189.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2000). State-specific changes in singleton preterm births among black and white women–United States, 1990 and 1997. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 49(37), 837–840.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). Infant mortality and low birth weight among black and white infants–United States, 1980–2000. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 51(27), 589–592.

Demissie, K., et al. (2001). Trends in preterm birth and neonatal mortality among blacks and whites in the United States from 1989 to 1997. American Journal of Epidemiology, 154(4), 307–315.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Branum, A. M., & Schoendorf, K. C. (2002). Changing patterns of low birthweight and preterm birth in the United States, 1981–98. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 16(1), 8–15.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Ananth, C. V., et al. (2005). Trends in preterm birth and perinatal mortality among singletons: United States, 1989 through 2000. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 105(5 Pt 1), 1084–1091.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Vahratian, A., et al. (2006). State-specific trends in preterm delivery: are rates really declining among non-Hispanic African Americans across the United States? Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10(1), 27–32.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Yang, Q., et al. (2006). Associations of maternal age- and parity-related factors with trends in low-birthweight rates: United States, 1980 through 2000. American Journal of Public Health, 96(5), 856–861.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Ananth, C. V., & Wen, S. W. (2002). Trends in fetal growth among singleton gestations in the United States and Canada, 1985 through 1998. Seminars in Perinatology, 26(4), 260–267.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Ananth, C. V., et al. (2003). Small-for-gestational-age births among black and white women: temporal trends in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 93(4), 577–579.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Qin, C., et al. (2007). Effects of different data-editing methods on trends in race-specific preterm delivery rates, United States, 1990–2002. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 21(Suppl 2), 41–49.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Kirmeyer, S. E., & Martin, J. A. (2007). Trends and differentials in higher-birthweight infants at 28–31 weeks of gestation, by race and Hispanic origin, United States, 1990–2002. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 21(Suppl 2), 31–40.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Vahratian, A., et al. (2004). Preterm delivery rates in North Carolina: are they really declining among non-Hispanic African Americans? American Journal of Epidemiology, 159(1), 59–63.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Joseph, K. S., & Ananth, C. V. (2005). Re: “Preterm delivery rates in North Carolina: are they really declining among non-Hispanic African Americans?”. American Journal of Epidemiology, 161(12), 1181–1182.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Northam, S., & Knapp, T. R. (2006). The reliability and validity of birth certificates. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 35(1), 3–12.CrossRefPubMed

21.

David, R. J. (1980). The quality and completeness of birthweight and gestational age data in computerized birth files. American Journal of Public Health, 70(9), 964–973.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Chomitz, V. R., et al. (1995). The role of lifestyle in preventing low birth weight. Future Child, 5(1), 121–138.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Alexander, G. R., & Korenbrot, C. C. (1995). The role of prenatal care in preventing low birth weight. Future Child, 5(1), 103–120.CrossRefPubMed

24.

Institute of Medicine, Subcommittee on Nutritional Status and Weight Gain during Pregnancy. (1990). Nutrition during pregnancy: Part I: Weight gain, Part II: Nutrient supplements. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

25.

O’Neill, C. (2004). Healthy babies: Efforts to improve birth outcomes and reduce high risk births. Washington, DC: NGA Center for Best Practices; 2004; Available at: http://www.nga.org/cda/files/0406births.pdf. Accessed 31 Mar 2008.

26.

O’Connor, J., et al. (2005). State-level health policy to improve birth outcomes and reduce infant mortality. Health Promotion Practice, 6(1), 12–22.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Kramer, M. S. (1987). Determinants of low birth weight: Methodological assessment and meta-analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 65(5), 663–737.PubMed

28.

Ohlsson, A., & Shah, P. (2009). Determinants and prevention of low birth weight: a synopsis of the evidence. Edmonton, AB: Institute of Health Economics; 2008. Available at: www.ihe.ca/publications/library/2009/determinants-and-prevention-of-low/. Accessed 5 Mar 2009.

29.

National Center for Health Statistics. (1993). Advance report of final natality statistics, 1991. Mon Vital Stat Rep, 42(3).

30.

Kotelchuck, M. (1994). The adequacy of prenatal care utilization index: Its US distribution and association with low birthweight. American Journal of Public Health, 84(9), 1486–1489.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Alexander, G. R., & Kotelchuck, M. (1996). Quantifying the adequacy of prenatal care: a comparison of indices. Public Health Reports, 111(5), 408–418.PubMed

32.

Parker, J. D. (2000). Birth weight trends among interracial black and white infants. Epidemiology, 11(3), 242–248.CrossRefPubMed

33.

Alexander, G. R., et al. (1996). A United States national reference for fetal growth. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 87(2), 163–168.CrossRefPubMed

34.

Martin, J. A., et al. (2005). Births: Final data for 2003. National Vital Statistics Reports, 54(2), 1–116.

35.

National Cancer Institute. (2007). Joinpoint regression program (version 3.0). 2005. Available at: http://srab.cancer.gov/joinpoint/. Accessed 3 May 2007.

36.

Tiwari, R. C., et al. (2005). Bayesian model selection for join point regression with application to age-adjusted cancer rates. Applied Statistics, 54(5), 919–939.

37.

National Cancer Institute. (2005). Cancer trends progress report: 2005 Update. Appendix: Methodology for characterizing trends. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2005. Available at: http://progressreport.cancer.gov/2005/appendices_methodology.asp. Accessed 3 May 2007.

38.

Robbins, A. S., et al. (2002). What’s the relative risk? A method to directly estimate risk ratios in cohort studies of common outcomes. Annals of Epidemiology, 12(7), 452–454.CrossRefPubMed

39.

Martin, J. A., et al. (2007). Births: Final data for 2005. National Vital Statistics Reports, 56(6), 1–104.PubMed

40.

Martin, J. A., et al. (2009). Births: Final data for 2006. National Vital Statistics Reports, 57(7), 1–104.

41.

Gibson, C., & Jung, K. (2006). Historical census statistics on the foreign-born population of the United States: 1850–2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau; 2006. Available at: http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0081/twps0081.pdf7-17-2008.

42.

Kent, M. (2007). Immigration and America’s Black population. Population Bulletin, 62(4) Available at: http://www.prb.org/pdf07/62.4immigration.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2008.

43.

David, R. J., & Collins, J. W, Jr. (1997). Differing birth weight among infants of U.S.-born blacks, African-born blacks, and U.S.-born whites. New England Journal of Medicine, 337(17), 1209–1214.CrossRefPubMed

44.

Pallotto, E. K., et al. (2000). Enigma of maternal race and infant birth weight: A population-based study of US-born Black and Caribbean-born Black women. American Journal of Epidemiology, 151(11), 1080–1085.PubMed

45.

Singh, G. K., & Yu, S. M. (1996). Adverse pregnancy outcomes: Differences between US- and foreign-born women in major US racial and ethnic groups. American Journal of Public Health, 86(6), 837–843.CrossRefPubMed

46.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2002). State-specific trends in U.S. Live births to women born outside the 50 states and the district of Columbia—United States, 1990 and 2000. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 51(48), 1091–1095.

47.

Subramanian, S. V., et al. (2006). Comparing individual- and area-based socioeconomic measures for the surveillance of health disparities: A multilevel analysis of Massachusetts births, 1989–1991. American Journal of Epidemiology, 164(9), 823–834.CrossRefPubMed

48.

Shulman, H. B., et al. (2006). The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS): Current methods and evaluation of 2001 response rates. Public Health Reports, 121(1), 74–83.PubMed

49.

Kotelchuck, M. (2006). Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS): Possible new roles for a national MCH data system. Public Health Reports, 121(1), 6–10.PubMed

50.

National Bureau of Economic Research. (2003). The NBER’s recession dating procedure. National Bureau of Economic Research; 2003. Available at: www.nber.org/cycles/recessions.html. Accessed 10 July 2008.

51.

Austin, A. (2008). What a recession means for black America. Economic Policy Institute 2008; Available at: www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib241. Accessed 10 July 2008.

52.

DeNavas-Walt, C., et al. (2006). Income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States: 2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports P60-231. Available at http://www census gov/prod/2006pubs/p60-231.pdf. Accessed 23 July 2007.

53.

U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. (2008). Employment Status. Available at: http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab2.htm . Accessed 12 Sept 2007.

54.

104th Congress of the United States. (1996). Personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996 (P.L. 104–193). Library of congress. Available at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c104:H.R.3734.ENR. Accessed 30 Mar 2008.

55.

Adams, E. K., et al. (2005). Welfare reform, insurance coverage pre-pregnancy, and timely enrollment: an eight-state study. Inquiry, 42(2), 129–144.PubMed

56.

Handler, A., et al. (2006). The pre-pregnancy insurance status of public aid recipients in the aftermath of welfare reform: women in the Medicaid Gap. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 17(1), 162–179.CrossRefPubMed

57.

Hyson, R., & Zawacki, A. (2008). Health-related research using confidential U.S. Census Bureau data. U.S. Census Bureau; 2008. Report No.: CES-WP-08-21.

58.

Moreno, L., et al. (2000). Effect of Healthy Start on infant mortality and birth outcomes. Available at: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/healthyeffect.pdf. Accessed 17 May 2007.

59.

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. (2006). Bringing home better birth outcomes. Issue Brief: Home Visiting. Available at: http://www.astho.org/pubs/HomeVisitingBriefFinal.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2008.

60.

Silva, R., et al. (2006). Preventing low birth weight in Illinois: Outcomes of the family case management program. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10(6), 481–488.CrossRefPubMed

61.

Willis, W. O., et al. (2004). Lower rates of low birthweight and preterm births in the California Black Infant Health Program. Journal of the National Medical Association, 96(3), 315–324.PubMed

62.

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. (1997). The Blue Ribbon Panel report on black infant mortality reduction.

63.

Ricketts, S. A., et al. (2005). Reducing low birthweight by resolving risks: Results from Colorado’s Prenatal Plus program. American Journal of Public Health, 95(11), 1952–1957.CrossRefPubMed

64.

Santelli, J. S., et al. (2007). Explaining recent declines in adolescent pregnancy in the United States: The contribution of abstinence and improved contraceptive use. American Journal of Public Health, 97(1), 150–156.CrossRefPubMed

65.

Ventura, S. J., et al. (2001). Births to teenagers in the United States, 1940–2000. National Vital Statistics Reports, 49(10), 1–23.

66.

Oliveira, V., & Frazao, E. (2009). The WIC program: Background, trends, and economic issues, 2009 Edition. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Report No.: 73. Available at www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ERR73/. Accessed 1 July 2009.

67.

Jamieson, D. J., & Buescher, P. A. (1992). The effect of family planning participation on prenatal care use and low birth weight. Family Planning Perspectives, 24(5), 214–218.CrossRefPubMed

68.

Moore, M. L., et al. (1989). The effect of a preterm birth prevention program in 17 rural and three urban counties in northwest North Carolina. The Journal of Rural Health, 5(4), 361–370.CrossRefPubMed

69.

Dubay, L. C., et al. (1995). Local responses to expanded Medicaid coverage for pregnant women. Milbank Quarterly, 73(4), 535–563.CrossRefPubMed

70.

Dubay, L., et al. (2001). Changes in prenatal care timing and low birth weight by race and socioeconomic status: implications for the Medicaid expansions for pregnant women. Health Services Research, 36(2), 373–398.PubMed

71.

Howell, E. M. (2001). The impact of the Medicaid expansions for pregnant women: A synthesis of the evidence. Medical Care Research and Review, 58(1), 3–30.PubMed

72.

Smits, L., et al. (2006). Lower birth weight of Dutch neonates who were in utero at the time of the 9/11 attacks. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 61(5), 715–717.CrossRefPubMed

73.

Lederman, S. A., et al. (2004). The effects of the World Trade Center event on birth outcomes among term deliveries at three lower Manhattan hospitals. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(17), 1772–1778.CrossRefPubMed

74.

Rich-Edwards, J. W., et al. (2005). Preterm delivery in Boston before and after September 11th, 2001. Epidemiology, 16(3), 323–327.CrossRefPubMed

75.

Eskenazi, B., et al. (2007). Low birthweight in New York city and upstate New York following the events of September 11th. Human Reproduction, 22(11), 3013–3020.CrossRefPubMed

76.

Pulcino, T., et al. (2003). Posttraumatic stress in women after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. J Womens Health (Larchmt), 12(8), 809–820.CrossRef

77.

Berkowitz, G. S., et al. (2003). The World Trade Center disaster and intrauterine growth restriction. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 290(5), 595–596.CrossRef

78.

Silver, R. C., et al. (2002). Nationwide longitudinal study of psychological responses to September 11. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(10), 1235–1244.CrossRef

79.

Schuster, M. A., et al. (2001). A national survey of stress reactions after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. New England Journal of Medicine, 345(20), 1507–1512.CrossRefPubMed

80.

Adams, R. E., & Boscarino, J. A. (2005). Stress and Well-Being in the Aftermath of the World Trade Center Attack: the Continuing Effects of a Communitywide Disaster. Journal of Community Psychology, 33(2), 175–190.CrossRefPubMed

81.

Adams, R. E., & Boscarino, J. A. (2005). Differences in mental health outcomes among Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics following a community disaster. Psychiatry, 68(3), 250–265.PubMed

82.

Strauss, L. T., et al. (2004). Abortion surveillance–United States, 2001. MMWR. Surveillance Summaries, 53(9), 1–32.

83.

Strauss, L. T., et al. (2007). Abortion surveillance–United States, 2004. MMWR. Surveillance Summaries, 56(9), 1–33.

84.

Schieve, L. A., et al. (2002). Low and very low birth weight in infants conceived with use of assisted reproductive technology. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(10), 731–737.CrossRefPubMed

85.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). Racial/ethnic trends in fetal mortality–United States, 1990-2000. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 53(24), 529–532.

86.

MacDorman, M. F., et al. (2007). Fetal and perinatal mortality, United States, 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports, 56(3), 1–19.PubMed

87.

Joseph, K. S., et al. (2002). Obstetric intervention, stillbirth, and preterm birth. Seminars in Perinatology, 26(4), 250–259.CrossRefPubMed

88.

Baraban, E., et al. (2008). Increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related hypertension in Los Angeles County, California, 1991–2003. Preventing Chronic Disease, 5(3), A77.PubMed

89.

Wallis, A. B., et al. (2008). Secular trends in the rates of preeclampsia, eclampsia, and gestational hypertension, United States, 1987–2004. American Journal of Hypertension, 21(5), 521–526.CrossRefPubMed

90.

Centers for Disease Control. (2003). Prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in adults—United States, 1999–2000. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 52(35), 833–837.

91.

Centers for Disease Control. (2007). National surveillance for asthma—United States, 1980–2004. MMWR. CDC Surveillance Summaries, 56(SS-8), 1–54.

92.

Kwon, H. L., et al. (2003). Asthma prevalence among pregnant and childbearing-aged women in the United States: Estimates from national health surveys. Annals of Epidemiology, 13(5), 317–324.CrossRefPubMed

93.

Hajjar, I., & Kotchen, T. A. (2003). Trends in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the United States, 1988–2000. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 290(2), 199–206.CrossRef

94.

Currie, J., & Grogger, J. (2002). Medicaid expansions and welfare contractions: offsetting effects on prenatal care and infant health? Journal of Health Economics, 21(2), 313–335.CrossRefPubMed

95.

Hogan, V. K., et al. (2001). A public health framework for addressing black and white disparities in preterm delivery. Journal of the American Medical Women’s Association, 56(4), 177–180. (205).PubMed

96.

Hogan, V. K., et al. (2001). Eliminating disparities in perinatal outcomes—lessons learned. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 5(2), 135–140.CrossRefPubMed

97.

Lu, M. C., et al. (2010). Closing the black-white gap in birth outcomes: a life-course approach. Ethn Dis (in press).

98.

Papiernik, E. (2007). Preventing preterm birth—is it really impossible?: A comment on the IOM report on preterm birth. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 11(5), 407–410.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Changing Trends in Low Birth Weight Rates Among Non-Hispanic Black Infants in the United States, 1991–2004
Authors: Cynthia Ferré
Arden Handler
Jason Hsia
Wanda Barfield
James W. Collins Jr
Publication date: 01-01-2011
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0570-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Changing Trends in Low Birth Weight Rates Among Non-Hispanic Black Infants in the United States, 1991–2004

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2011

Measuring Birth Weight in Developing Countries: Does the Method of Reporting in Retrospective Surveys Matter?

Factors Associated with Declining a Rapid Human Immunodeficiency Virus Test in Labor and Delivery

Variation by State in Outcomes Classification for Deliveries Less Than 500 g in the United States

Physical Activity and Risk of Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth Among Predominantly Puerto Rican Women

Household Exposure to Secondhand Smoke is Associated with Decreased Physical and Mental Health of Mothers in the USA

Low-Income Minority and Homeless Mothers’ Perceptions of Their 9–13 Year-Old Children’s Weight Status, Diet, and Health