title: Neighborhood risk factors for low birthweight in Baltimore: a multilevel analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Past research on low birthweight has focused on individual-level risk factors. We sought to assess the contribution of macrolevel social factors by using census tract-level data on social stratification, community empowerment, and environmental stressors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Census tract-level information on social risk was linked to birth certificate records from Baltimore, Md, for the period 1985 through 1989. Individual level factors included maternal education, maternal age, medical assistance health insurance (Medicaid), and trimester of prenatal care initiation. Methods of multilevel modeling using two-stage regression analyses were employed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macrolevel factors had both direct associations and interactions with low birthweight. All individual risk factors showed interaction with macrolevel variables; that is, individual-level risk factors for low birthweight behaved differently depending upon the characteristics of the neighborhood of residence. For example, women living in high-risk neighborhoods benefited less from prenatal care than did women living in lower-risk neighborhoods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multilevel modeling is an important tool that allows simultaneous study of macro- and individual-level risk factors. Multilevel analyses should play a larger role in the formulation of public health policies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Campo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caughy
mesh_terms: D015142:Baltimore; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011295:Prenatal Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors