title: Predicting low birthweight and complicated labor in urban black women: a biopsychosocial perspective.
abstract: This study explored demographic, biomedical and psychosocial factors as predictors of two adverse pregnancy outcomes: intrapartum complications and low birthweight, in 140 urban black pregnant women. The intrapartum complication rate was 18%. A four factor equation (low family functioning, advanced maternal age, working during pregnancy, and short stature) predicted intrapartum complications (80% sensitivity, 67% specificity and 35% positive predictive value). The low birthweight rate was 14%. Four factors (low family functioning, stressful events, Quetelet's Index, and cigarette smoking) predicted low birthweight (65% sensitivity, 84% specificity and 42% positive predictive value). Family functioning, alone, predicted low birthweight with 65% sensitivity, 64% specificity and 31% positive predictive value. Family functioning, was the only predictor for both outcomes. Family functioning and other psychosocial risk factors may potentially improve identification of high risk pregnant urban black women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Reeb
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zyzanski
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kitson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014504:Urban Health