title: The 2007 los angeles mommy and baby study: a multilevel, population-based study of maternal and infant health in los angeles county.
abstract: Objectives. In order to comprehensively examine the risks and resources associated with racial-ethnic disparities in adverse obstetric outcomes, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the University of California, Los Angeles, joined efforts to design and implement the 2007 Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) study. This paper aims to present the conceptual frameworks underlying the study's development, highlight the successful collaboration between a research institution and local health department, describe the distinguishing characteristics of its methodology, and discuss the study's implications for research, programs, and policies. Methods. The LAMB study utilized a multilevel, multistage cluster design with a mixed-mode methodology for data collection. Two samples were ultimately produced: the multilevel sample (n = 4,518) and the augmented final sample (n = 6,264). Results. The LAMB study allowed us to collect multilevel data on the risks and resources associated with racial-ethnic disparities in adverse obstetric outcomes. Both samples were more likely to be Hispanic, aged 20-34 years, completed at least 12 years of schooling, and spoke English. Conclusions. The LAMB study represents the successful collaboration between an academic institution and local health department and is a theoretically based research database and surveillance system that informs effective programmatic and policy interventions to improve outcomes among LAC's varied demographic groups.
authors.affiliation: Research, Evaluation and Planning Division, Los Angeles County Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Programs, 600 Commonwealth Avenue, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Shin M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Ferris State University College of Health Professions, 200 Ferris Drive, VFS 428, Big Rapids, MI 49307, USA.
authors.forename: Fathima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wakeel
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330, USA.
authors.forename: Dena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Research, Evaluation and Planning Division, Los Angeles County Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Programs, 600 Commonwealth Avenue, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: Clemson University Department of Public Health Sciences, 505 Edwards Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: University of California, Berkeley-San Francisco Joint Medical Program, 50 University Hall, No. 7360, San Francisco, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Phipps 279, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu