The prevalence of socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics and their impact on very low birth weight in black and white infants in Georgia.
OBJECTIVE
We examined possible reasons for the disparity in the rate of very low birth weight (VLBW) delivery (<1500 g) in the United States between black women and white women.


METHODS
Using data from a population-based, case-control study of very low birth weight infants, we compared the prevalence of sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics between black and white mothers of normal birth weight infants; the difference in these characteristics between case and control mothers; and, using logistic regression, calculated odds ratios for VLBW for black versus white infants, adjusting for these characteristics.


RESULTS
Although black women were disadvantaged on every variable examined, they did not report more behavioral risk factors. Among white women, several traditional risk factors were associated with VLBW, while among black women, only marital status, cigarette smoking, and vitamin nonuse were associated with VLBW delivery. Controlling for the socioeconomic and behavioral factors reduced the odds ratio for VLBW delivery among black mothers from 3.7 to 3.3.


CONCLUSIONS
Racial disparity in socioeconomic status may be greater than our current ability to adjust for it in epidemiologic studies. The fact that traditional risk factors were not associated with VLBW delivery in black women may be due to the very high prevalence of these risk factors among black women or to different or additional risks or stresses experienced by black women.
Berg
C J
CJ
Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. cjb@cdc.gov
Wilcox
L S
LS
d'Almada
P J
PJ
D001741:Black or African American; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People