title: Racial and social predictors of longitudinal cervical measures: the Cervical Ultrasound Study.
abstract: To evaluate whether the racial and socioeconomic disparities are present in adverse cervical parameters, and, if so, when such disparities develop.
  
  
  
  A prospective cohort study was conducted. 175 women with a prior preterm birth had up to four endovaginal ultrasounds between gestational weeks 16 and 24 (Cervical Ultrasound Trial of the MFMU). Each sociodemographic factor (race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance funding and education) was examined as a predictor of short cervix or U/funnel shape, using multiple logistic and linear regression. Changes in the cervical length and shape across pregnancy and after pressure were also examined.
  
  
  
  The strongest associations were seen between race and government-funded insurance and short cervix and U shape per funneling (race and length <25 mm per funnel: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.52, 2.24 to 13.63; government-funded insurance and length <30 mm per funnel: adjusted OR 3.10, 1.34 to 7.15). Changes in cervical length were not associated with sociodemographics.
  
  
  
  African-American race and, to a lesser extent, insurance funder, are associated with cervical length and shapes that have been associated with preterm birth, and those properties are present largely early in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Harville
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Knoepp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044469:Racial Groups; D012923:Social Class; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States; D002581:Uterine Cervical Incompetence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult