title: Community income, smoking, and birth weight disparities in Wisconsin.
abstract: This study examined the extent to which community-level income and smoking status were associated with birth-weight disparities in the state of Wisconsin. Data included 1998 and 1999 birth record files with appended census income data for African-American, Latino, and White single births in Wisconsin. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed where the dependent variable included low birth weight (LBW: < 2,500 grams) and very low birth weight (VLBW: < 1,500 grams) relative to normal birth weight. The independent variables included income levels categorized as poor (< $12,499), lower middle ($12,500-34,999), and upper middle to affluent ($35,000 or more) determined by zip code, and smoking status (yes/no). African-American and Latino mothers who lived in poor communities and smoked were almost three times more likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) infant than their more affluent, non-smoking counterparts. Community income and smoking status played significant roles in birth weight disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jackson Heart Study, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39213, USA. msims2@medicine.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Tammy Harris
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Marino A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000191:economics; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology