The aim of this study was to explore whether conditions of mothers; neighbourhood of residence contributed to adverse birth outcomes, independent of individual-level determinants. Results suggested that measures of neighbourhood economic conditions were associated with both fetal growth and the length of gestation, independent of individual-level factors.
This study tested a model describing the relationships between various biopsychosocial, behavioral, and cognitive factors on nutritional adequacy and infant birth weight in low-income pregnant women. The findings showed that maternal age, body mass index prior to pregnancy, nutritional knowledge, and infant gestation at birth explained 52% of the variance in infant birth weight. Providing nutritional education throughout pregnancy might lead to improved dietary patterns, which, in turn, might reduce the incidence of low birth weight.
The author tested predictors of infant birth weight, including prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, and smoking. Results showed that higher birth weight was predicted by prepregnancy obesity. Lower infant birth weight was predicted by both lower and higher-than-recommended weight gain and by lower and higher levels of smoking.
This study examines whether dietary attitudes and demographics differed, based on the smoking status among low-income women participating in a dietary intervention. Results indicated that relative to nonsmokers, current smokers reported significantly higher overall calories; higher percentages of calories from fat, sweets, and alcohol; and a lower percentage of calories from protein. Those who had never smoked and who received the dietary intervention evidenced the greatest dietary changes over time.
This study evaluated an intervention aimed at increasing the report of prenatal alcohol use in a community setting. The rates of reported prenatal alcohol consumption at the 12 WIC intervention sites were compared with rates at 12 WIC control sites, using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent-samples t-tests. Within 8 months of study commencement, rates of reported prenatal alcohol consumption were significantly higher at the intervention sites than at the control sites.
The authors examines the efficacy of a brief intervention (10- to 15-minute counseling sessions) as a technique to help pregnant women achieve abstinence from alcohol. The second aim was to assess newborn outcomes as a function of the brief intervention. Women in the brief intervention condition were 5 times more likely to report abstinence after the intervention, compared with women in the assessment-only condition. Newborns whose mothers received the brief intervention had higher birth weights and birth lengths. In addition, their fetal mortality rates were 3 times lower (0.9%), compared with newborns in the assessment-only condition (2.9%).
This study examines the extent to which pregnant women participating in the WIC Program were counseled by their healthcare providers to stop drinking alcohol during pregnancy. A second purpose was to identify characteristics associated with alcohol consumption post recognition of pregnancy. The results showed that women who were most likely to receive advice were black non-Hispanic and Hispanic, were Spanish speaking, were less educated, were on public assistance, and had a higher number of alcohol-related risk behaviors.
The researchers assessed the prevalence of alcohol consumption in a sample of low-income pregnant Latinas and examines risk factors for alcohol use in the periconceptional period. According to their findings, level of knowledge about fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and awareness of warning messages was not protective for early pregnancy alcohol consumption, suggesting that specific knowledge was insufficient to prevent exposure or that other factors reinforced maintenance of alcohol consumption in early pregnancy. Selective interventions in low-income Latinas are warranted and should focus on women of reproductive age who are binge drinkers or frequent drinkers and who are at risk of becoming pregnant.
The present study had two aims: (1) to examine the prevalence rates of prenatal alcohol consumption in a group of women participating in WIC in Southern California, with special emphasis on Hispanic women, and (2) to identify variables associated with postconception drinking in low-income minority women. Results suggested that it was important to screen low-income minority pregnant women in a community setting, to initiate interventions to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome and related conditions.
This study looked at the relationship between WIC and breastfeeding initiation and duration. Using the 2007 National Immunization Survey data set, the researchers found a negative association between WIC and breastfeeding initiation and duration, compared with non-participants.
