Publications by authors named "L A Avalos"
Prevalence of autism diagnosis has historically differed by demographic factors. Using data from 8224 participants drawn from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, we examined relationships between demographic factors and parent-reported autism-related traits as captured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; T score > 65) and compared these to relations with parent-reported clinician diagnosis of ASD, in generalized linear mixed effects regression analyses. Results suggested lower odds of autism diagnosis, but not of SRS T > 65, for non-Hispanic Black children (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.
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- The study investigates how prenatal dietary quality, assessed through the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP), impacts infant sizes at birth and growth patterns up to age 24 months.
- Researchers analyzed data from 2854 parent-child pairs participating in a long-term health program, highlighting the diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds of the participants.
- Results revealed that a healthier diet during pregnancy (high HEI score) is linked to lower likelihoods of having large infants at birth and experiencing rapid growth, suggesting that dietary choices may play a vital role in combating obesity later in life.
Importance: It is unknown whether state recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) is related to increased rates of prenatal cannabis use or whether RCL-related changes vary with cannabis screening methods or the local policy environment.
Objective: To test whether RCL in California was associated with changes in prenatal cannabis use rates, whether changes were evident in both self-report and urine toxicology testing, and whether rates varied by local policies banning vs allowing adult-use retailers post-RCL.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based time-series study used data from pregnancies in Kaiser Permanente Northern California universally screened for cannabis use during early pregnancy by self-report and toxicology testing from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2019.
A Tailored Postpartum eHealth Physical Activity Intervention for Individuals at High Risk of Postpartum Depression-the POstpartum Wellness Study (POW): Protocol and Data Overview for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
JMIR Res Protoc
October 2024
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is associated with significant health consequences for the parent and child. Current recommendations for PPD prevention require intense health care system resources. Evidence-based interventions for PPD prevention that do not further burden the health care system are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Research suggests the social, physical, and socioeconomic contexts of residing in segregated neighborhoods may negatively affect mental health.
Objective: To assess the association between racial residential segregation and prenatal mental health among Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White individuals.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), an integrated health care delivery system.