Work

Housing Transitions and Low Birth Weight Among Low-Income Women: Longitudinal Study of the Perinatal Consequences of Changing Public Housing Policy

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We assessed the longitudinal association between housing transitions and pregnancy outcomes in a sample of public housing residents. METHODS: A cohort of 2670 Black women residing in Atlanta, Georgia, housing projects with 1 birth occurring between 1994 and 2007 was created from maternally linked longitudinal birth files and followed for subsequent births. Traditional regression and marginal structural models adjusting for time-varying confounding estimated the risk of preterm low birth weight (LBW) or small for gestational age LBW by maternal housing transition patterns. RESULTS: Women moving from public to private housing as a result of housing project demolition were at elevated risk for preterm LBW (risk ratio = 1.74; 95% confidence interval = 1.00-3.04) compared with women not affected by project demolition. Other non-policy-related housing transition patterns were not associated with pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Further longitudinal study of housing transitions among public housing residents is needed to better understand the relationship between housing, neighborhoods, housing policy, and perinatal outcomes.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2012.300782

Authors: Michael R. Kramer, Lance A. Waller, Anne L. Dunlop, Carol R. Hogue

Institution: Emory University

Language: English

Topic: Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Public Health Service, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development