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Factors associated with birthweight: An exploration of the roles of prenatal care and length of gestation

Author

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  • Showstack, J.A.
  • Budetti, P.P.
  • Minkler, D.

Abstract

To assess the association with birthweight of prenatal medical care, length of gestation, and other prenatal factors, birth certificate data were studied for babies born in 1978 to mothers who were residents of Alameda or Contra Costa counties, California. Using multiple regression data analytic techniques, adequate prenatal care (defined by the number of prenatal care visits compared to the length of gestation and month of start of care) was found to be associated with an increase of 197 grams in average birthweight. This effect was even greater for Black infants and infants of short length of gestation. Adding length of gestation to the equation increased significantly the proportion of the variance in birthweight accounted for. For babies of short gestation (≤ 280 days), the addition of length of gestation was associated with a halving of the association of prenatal care with birthweight. The results suggest that researchers need to take into account the nonlinear relationship between length of gestation and birthweight when assessing factors that affect birthweight.

Suggested Citation

  • Showstack, J.A. & Budetti, P.P. & Minkler, D., 1984. "Factors associated with birthweight: An exploration of the roles of prenatal care and length of gestation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 74(9), pages 1003-1008.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1984:74:9:1003-1008_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Chin-Shyan & Liu, Tsai-Ching & Chen, Li-Mei, 2003. "National Health Insurance and the antenatal care use: a case in Taiwan," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 99-112, April.
    2. Machio Phyllis Mumia, 2017. "Determinants of Neonatal and Under-five Mortality in Kenya: Do Antenatal and Skilled Delivery Care Services Matter?," Working Papers 340, African Economic Research Consortium, Research Department.
    3. Fred Pampel & Vijayan Pillai, 1986. "Patterns and determinants of infant mortality in developed nations, 1950–1975," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 23(4), pages 525-542, November.
    4. Chen, Chin-Shyan & Liu, Tsai-Ching & Lin, Herng-Ching & Tian, Wei-Hua, 2007. "The effect of Taiwan's National Health Insurance on infants' preventive care use and inpatient care use," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(3), pages 432-443, March.
    5. Jane Griffin, 1993. "Born Too Soon," Series on Health 000399, Office of Health Economics.
    6. Lautharte, Ildo, 2021. "Babies and Bandidos: Birth outcomes in pacified favelas of Rio de Janeiro," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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