title: 11-year trends in pregnancy-related health indicators in Maine, 2000-2010.
abstract: The objective of this study is to understand health and demographic trends among mothers and infants in Maine relative to the goals of Healthy People 2020. Pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system (PRAMS) data from Maine for 2000-2010 were used to determine yearly values of pregnancy-related variables. Means (for continuous variables) and percentages (for categorical variables) were calculated using the survey procedures in SAS. Linear trend analysis was applied with study year as the independent variable. The slope and significance of the trend were then calculated. Over the study period, new mothers in Maine became better educated but the fraction of households with incomes <$20,000/year remained stagnant. Maternal prepregnancy BMI increased. Average pregnancy weight gain decreased but the number of women whose pregnancy weight gain was within the recommended range was unchanged. The rates of smoking and alcohol consumption (before and during pregnancy) increased. The Caesarean section rate rose and the fraction of infants born premature (<37 wks gestation) or underweight (<2500 gms) remained unchanged. The fraction of infants who were breast-fed increased. These results suggest that, despite some positive trends, Maine faces significant challenges in meeting Healthy People 2020 goals.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: AbouEl-Makarim
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3192-4674
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aboueissa
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baugh
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sarton
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lichter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D040361:Healthy People Programs; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008281:Maine / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires