title: Developing a maternally linked birth dataset to study the generational recurrence of low birthweight in Virginia.
abstract: This paper examined the generational recurrence of low birthweight (LBW) among first-born singletons using a statewide maternally-linked birth dataset. An intergenerational dataset was created by linking 2005-2009 to 1960-1997 Virginia resident live birth data. Maternal information from the recent birth cohort was linked to infant information in the historic birth file using various combinations of mother's name and birthdate. The linked dataset contained 170,624 records (87 % of all eligible records). The analysis dataset was limited to non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white first-born singleton infants linked to their mother's own birth record (n = 69,702). Maternal birthweight was a significant predictor of LBW for first-born singletons. The birthweight distribution for both non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white infants was shifted toward lower birthweights for infants whose mothers were born LBW. Even after adjusting for known maternal risk factors in the current pregnancy, non-Hispanic black (AOR = 1.6 [95 % CI 1.4, 1.8]) and non-Hispanic white (AOR = 2.0 [95 % CI 1.8, 2.3]) infants had increased odds of being born LBW if their mother was born LBW. A mother's early life experiences can impact the health of her children. These findings underscore the importance of applying a life course perspective to the prevention of LBW. Routine linkage of maternal and infant birth data is needed to strengthen the evidence base for policies and programs that address issues affecting maternal and child health throughout the life course.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine & Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, One Capitol Square, 8th Floor, 830 East Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA, dachapman@vcu.edu.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Gandarvaka
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D008498:Medical Record Linkage / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult