title: Correlates of neonatal morbidity: maternal characteristics and family resources.
abstract: The association of mental characteristics, family resources, and receipt of prenatal care with infant birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar scores was assessed in a retrospective review of an extant computerized data base of admissions to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; n = 3,818). Prediction variables included mother's age, marital status, health insurance, parity, prenatal health problems, and prenatal drug use. Less favorable infant birth status was associated with prenatal health problems, being single, not having private insurance, obtaining a prior elective abortion, prenatal drug use, and not receiving prenatal care. Stepwise multiple regressions of predictor variables to birth weight and lack of prenatal care were performed. Low birth weight was associated with being single, receiving no prenatal care, and being Black. Lack of prenatal care was associated with mother's age, high parity, prenatal health problems, and prenatal illicit drug use. Pediatric interventions assessing maternal social and behavioral characteristics are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Giblin
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Poland
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ager
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors