Objectives: To describe maternal characteristics and birth outcomes in a group of pregnant minority adolescents and to characterize the impact of maternal age (<15 years versus 15-17 years) on birth outcomes.
Study Design: A 10-year retrospective chart review was conducted in 1120 pregnant black adolescents (< or =17 years of age) who had received prenatal care at an inner-city maternity clinic in Baltimore, Md.
Results: Pregnant black adolescents had a higher incidence of low birth weight infants, preterm delivery, and fetal death compared with normative data from the United States. Younger adolescents were more likely to have inadequate utilization of prenatal care (P<.01). Older adolescents had a higher incidence of gonorrhea infections (P=.046), greater rates of self-reported substance abuse (P=.063), and a higher history of cigarette smoking (P<.01). Low prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), inadequate weight gain, and poor prenatal care utilization were strong independent predictors of preterm birth (P<.05). Low prepregnancy BMI, inadequate weight gain, female infant, and self-reported cigarette smoking history were significantly associated with decreased infant birth weight (P<.05).
Conclusions: Pregnant black adolescents had increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This population should be studied further to develop age-appropriate and population-specific interventions to improve birth outcomes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1067/S0022-3476(03)00363-9 | DOI Listing |
Vet Parasitol
January 2025
Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, Bern 3012, Switzerland. Electronic address:
The protozoan parasite Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in cattle. Infection occurs horizontally by ingestion of oocysts shed by canids or vertically, from an infected dam to the foetus, and may result in abortion, stillbirth, or the birth of subclinically infected offspring. We estimated the occurrence of N.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Form Res
January 2025
Department of Design Innovation, College of Design, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a birth defect of the heart that requires long-term care and often leads to additional health complications. Effective educational strategies are essential for improving health literacy and care outcomes. Despite affecting around 40,000 children annually in the United States, there is a gap in understanding children's health literacy, parental educational burdens, and the efficiency of health care providers in delivering education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJMIR Form Res
January 2025
Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Background: Racial inequities in pregnancy outcomes persist despite investments in clinical, educational, and behavioral interventions, indicating that a new approach is needed to address the root causes of health disparities. Guaranteed income during pregnancy has the potential to narrow racial health inequities for birthing people and infants by alleviating financial stress.
Objective: We describe community-driven formative research to design the first pregnancy-guaranteed income program in the United States-the Abundant Birth Project (ABP).
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Background: The oocyte retrieval is a critical step in assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization and fertility preservation. Despite evolving techniques, the optimal aspiration pressure during retrieval remains debatable, with limited in vivo human studies. Existing studies, primarily in vitro and on animals, suggest that inappropriate aspiration pressures can impair oocyte quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMatern Child Health J
January 2025
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, Fee Hall West Wing; 909 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Background: Dental care before pregnancy is critical for preventing poor oral health, which is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. People with low incomes, however, may face insurance-related barriers to obtaining dental care. Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act increased access to dental care utilization among adults with low incomes.
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