title: Relation of maternal low birth weight to infant growth retardation and prematurity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the relationship between maternal birth weight, infant intrauterine growth retardation, and prematurity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stratified and logistic regression analyses were performed on a dataset of computerized Illinois vital records of African American (N = 61,849) and White (N = 203,698) infants born between 1989 and 1991 and their mothers born between 1956 and 1975.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Race-specific rates of small-for-gestational age (weight-for-gestational age <10th percentile) and preterm (<37 weeks) infants rose as maternal birth weight declined. The adjusted (controlling for maternal age, education, marital status, parity, prenatal care utilization, and cigarette smoking) odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of small-for-gestational age for maternal low birth weight (<2,500 g) among African Americans and Whites were 1.7 (1.1.4-1.9) and 1.8 (1.7-2.0), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of prematurity for maternal low birth weight (<2,500 g) among African Americans and Whites were 1.6 (1.3-1.9) and 1.3 (1.0-1.6), respectively. The racial disparity in the rates of small-for-gestational age and prematurity persisted independent of maternal birth weight: adjusted odds ratio equaled 2.2 (2.1-2.4) and 1.5 (1.4-1.7), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal low birth weight is a risk factor for infant intrauterine growth retardation and prematurity among African Americans independent of maternal risk status during pregnancy; it is a risk factor for infant intrauterine growth retardation among Whites. Maternal low birth weight fails to explain the racial disparity in the rates of small-for-gestational age and premature infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Memorial Hospital, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Dyan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.forename: Nikhil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Prachand
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data