title: Low birth weight across generations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the relationship between maternal birth weight, prenatal care usage, and infant birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stratified and logistic regression analyses were performed on a dataset of computerized Illinois vital records of White (N = 187, 074) and African-American (N = 58,856) infants born between 1989 and 1991 and their mothers born between 1956 and 1975.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among White mothers who received adequate prenatal care, the low birth weight (<2500 g) rate was 4% for infants of former low birth weight mothers (N = 5230) compared to 2.1% for infants of former nonlow birth weight mothers (N = 93,011), relative risk equaled 1.9(1.7-2.2); the population attributable risk of maternal low birth weight was 4.1%. Among African American mothers who received adequate prenatal care, the low birth weight rate was 15% for infants of former low birth weight mothers (N = 2196) compared to 7.2% for infants of former nonlow birth weight mothers (N = 14,607), relative risk equaled 2.1(1.9-2.4); the population attributable risk of maternal low birth weight was 10.9%. The maternal-infant birth weight associations were consistent across all maternal age, education, marital status, and prenatal care categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal low birth weight is a risk factor for infant low birth weight independent of risk status during the current pregnancy. A greater percentage of low birth weight African American (compared to White) infants are attributable to maternal low birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hospital, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA. jcollins@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Nikhil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Prachand
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D001741:Black or African American