Association Between Maternal-Perceived Psychological Stress and Fetal Telomere Length.

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the association between maternal-perceived psychological stress and fetal telomere length.

Methods: We recruited women in labor upon hospital delivery admission. Based on responses to the Perceived Stress Scale, we categorized participants as having "high," "normal," or "low" perceived stress.

Socio-ecological Model as a Framework for Overcoming Barriers and Challenges in Randomized Control Trials in Minority and Underserved Communities.

Background: Numerous barriers and challenges can hinder the successful enrollment and retention of study participants in clinical trials targeting minority populations. To conduct quality research, it is important to investigate these challenges, determine appropriate strategies that are evidence-based and continue seeking methods of improvement.

Methods: In this paper, we report such experiences in a registered clinical trial in an underserved minority population in the Southern part of United States.

Association between maternal symptoms of sleep disordered breathing and fetal telomere length.

Study Objectives: Our investigation aims to assess the impact of symptoms of maternal sleep-disordered breathing, specifically sleep apnea risk and daytime sleepiness, on fetal leukocyte telomere length.

Participants And Setting: Pregnant women were recruited upon hospital delivery admission.

Interventions: Sleep exposure outcomes were measured using the Berlin Questionnaire to quantify sleep apnea and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to measure daytime sleepiness.

Impact of intrauterine tobacco exposure on fetal telomere length.

Objective: We sought to investigate whether maternal smoking during pregnancy affects telomere length of the fetus.

Study Design: Pregnant women were recruited on hospital admission at delivery. A self-report questionnaire and salivary cotinine test were used to confirm tobacco exposure.

Paternal involvement and fetal morbidity outcomes in HIV/AIDS: a population-based study.

Prior research indicates that infants with absent fathers are vulnerable to unfavorable fetal birth outcomes. HIV is a recognized risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. However, the influence of paternal involvement on fetal morbidity outcomes in women with HIV remains poorly understood.

HIV infection and its impact on fetal outcomes among women of advanced maternal age: a propensity score weighted matching approach.

Advanced maternal age (AMA) and HIV status have been investigated separately for their influence on infant outcomes. Both are associated with adverse fetal growth outcomes, including low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). However, the impact of the cooccurrence of these factors in relation to birth outcomes remains relatively understudied.

Interpregnancy body mass index changes and risk of stillbirth.

Background/aims: To examine the association between interpregnancy body mass index (BMI) change and stillbirth.

Methods: Retrospective study using Missouri maternally linked cohort files (1978-2005). A total of 218,389 women were used in the analysis.

Temporal trends in cardiomyopathy in pregnancy and association with feto-infant morbidity outcomes.

Objective: To examine temporal trends of cardiomyopathy in pregnancy and its association with feto-infant morbidity outcomes.

Design And Methods: We performed a population-based retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the Florida hospital discharge data linked to vital statistics for 1998 to 2007 (N = 1 738 860). Prevalence rates and trend statistics of cardiomyopathy were computed.

Fetal sex and differential survival in preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Purpose: We investigate sex differences in the incidence of stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and perinatal mortality among singletons born to mothers with preeclampsia or eclampsia.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of a population-based sample of singleton births covering the period 1989 through 2005 (n = 56,313).

Results: The study population comprised 26,931 female (47.

Placental abruption, offspring sex, and birth outcomes in a large cohort of mothers.

Objective: To investigate stillbirth, neonatal, and perinatal death outcomes in pregnancies complicated by placental abruption, according to fetal sex.

Methods: We utilized maternally linked cohort data files of singleton live births to mothers diagnosed with placental abruption during the period 1989 through 2005 (n = 10,014). Logistic regression models were employed to generate adjusted odd ratios and their 95% confidence intervals.

Recurrent versus isolated pre-eclampsia and risk of feto-infant morbidity outcomes: racial/ethnic disparity.

Objective: We examined the association between recurrent versus isolated pre-eclampsia and feto-infant morbidity outcomes.

Study Design: This is a population-based retrospective study on Florida hospital discharge data linked to the birth cohort files from 1998 through 2007. The study population comprised women with singleton first and second births who experienced pre-eclampsia in both pregnancies, and a comparison group consisting of women who were normotensive during their first pregnancy but developed pre-eclampsia in their second pregnancy.

The impact of obesity on maternal morbidity and feto-infant outcomes among macrosomic infants.

Objective: To estimate the contribution of obesity to maternal complications, neonatal morbidity and mortality among macrosomic births.

Design: A population-based retrospective cohort design using State of Missouri maternally linked birth cohort files.

Methods: Using pre-gravid body mass index (BMI), we categorized mothers of 116,976 singleton macrosomic live births as non-obese (BMI < 30) or obese (BMI ≥ 30).

Association between intimate partner violence and induced abortion in Cameroon.

Objective: To examine the association between intimate partner violence (IPV; physical, sexual, and emotional violence) and induced abortion in Cameroon.

Methods: We used data from the 2004 Cameroon Demographic Health Survey (DHS) and hierarchic multivariate modeling to compare the rates of induced abortion by IPV type.

Results: In 2004, 2570 women were administered the domestic violence module of the DHS.

Cesarean delivery versus vaginal delivery: impact on survival and morbidity for the breech fetus at the threshold of viability.

Objective: To determine if cesarean delivery is associated with improved survival and morbidity in the breech fetus at the threshold of viability.

Study Design: The Missouri maternally linked cohort data files covering the period 1989 through 2005 were utilized for analysis. All pregnancies with singleton fetuses in the breech presentation delivered between 23(0) and 24(6) weeks gestation and birth weights between 400 and 750 g were included.

The impact of previous cesarean section on the success of future fetal programming pattern.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine whether cesarean section in the first pregnancy is associated with the success or failure of programmed fetal growth phenotypes or patterns in the subsequent pregnancy.

Methods: We analyzed data from a population-based retrospective cohort of singleton deliveries that occurred in the state of Missouri from 1978 to 2005 (n = 1,224,133). The main outcome was neonatal mortality, which was used as an index of the success of fetal programming.

The psychosocial impact of vesico-vaginal fistula in Niger.

Purpose: To explore the psycho-social impact of vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) on women in Niger.

Study Design: We conducted a qualitative study on 21 women in convalescence at the DIMOL Reproductive Health Center in Niamey, Niger, in 2008 and 2009. The women had undergone 1-3 fistula repair operations and all had stillborn infants.

Disparities in rates and trends of HIV/AIDS during pregnancy across the decade, 1998-2007.

Objective: To examine trends in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates among pregnant women over the previous decade and across subpopulations in the state of Florida.

Methods: We analyzed all Florida births from 1998 to 2007 (n = 1,700,734) using hospital discharge data linked to birth certificate records.

Results: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in pregnancy decreased from 298 per 100,000 births to 252 per 100,000 births (P for trend < 0.

Changes in prepregnancy body mass index between pregnancies and risk of preterm phenotypes.

We examined whether the risk of preterm birth and its subtypes (medically indicated and spontaneous preterm) are influenced by changes in prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) between the first and second pregnancies. A population-based, retrospective cohort analysis was performed using the Missouri (1978 to 2005) longitudinally linked cohort data sets. Women with their first two successive singleton live births ( N = 436,502) were analyzed.

Impact of prenatal alcohol consumption on placenta-associated syndromes.

The biology of placental and fetal development suggests that alcohol may play a significant role in increasing the risk of feto-infant morbidity and mortality, but study results are inconsistent and the mechanism remains poorly defined. Previous studies have not examined the risk of placenta-associated syndromes (PASs: defined as the occurrence of either placental abruption, placenta previa, preeclampsia, small for gestational age, preterm, or stillbirth) as a unique entity. Therefore, we sought to examine the relationship between prenatal alcohol use and the risk of PAS among singleton births in the Missouri maternally linked data files covering the period 1989-2005.

Assessing the impact of paternal involvement on racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates.

We sought to assess the contribution of paternal involvement to racial disparities in infant mortality. Using vital records data from singleton births in Florida between 1998 and 2005, we generated odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and preventative fractions to assess the association between paternal involvement and infant mortality. Paternal involvement status was based on presence/absence of paternal first and/or last name on the birth certificate.

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and risk of placental abruption and placenta previa.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between prenatal alcohol consumption and the occurrence of placental abruption and placenta previa in a population-based sample. We used linked birth data files to conduct a retrospective cohort study of singleton deliveries in the state of Missouri during the period 1989 through 2005 (n = 1,221,310). The main outcomes of interest were placenta previa, placental abruption and a composite outcome defined as the occurrence of either or both lesions.

Association between tobacco use in pregnancy and placenta-associated syndromes: a population-based study.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between maternal smoking in pregnancy and the occurrence of placental-associated syndromes (PAS).

Methods: We analyzed data from a population-based retrospective cohort of singleton deliveries that occurred in the state of Missouri from 1989 through 2005 (N = 1,224,133).

Pre-eclampsia in the first pregnancy and subsequent risk of stillbirth in black and white gravidas.

Objective: To examine the association between prior pre-eclampsia and subsequent stillbirth in black women and white women.

Study Design: This is a population-based retrospective study of Missouri maternally linked birth cohort files from 1989 to 2005. We analyzed singleton first and second births to mothers in the state of Missouri.

Intrauterine exposure to tobacco and risk of medically indicated and spontaneous preterm birth.

We investigated the association between prenatal smoking and the occurrence of medically indicated and spontaneous preterm delivery (<37 weeks). We performed a retrospective cohort study of singleton live births in the state of Missouri (n = 1,219,159) using maternally linked cohort data files covering the period 1989 to 2005. The main outcomes of interest were spontaneous and medically indicated preterm and very preterm birth.

The superobese mother and ethnic disparities in preterm birth.

Objectives: We assessed the association between preterm birth and obesity subtypes across racial/ethnic groups.

Methods: We analyzed data on 540981 women from birth cohort files for the State of Florida from 2004 to 2007. Obese women were categorized using body mass index (BMI) values as class I obese (30.