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Homelessness During Pregnancy: A Unique, Time-Dependent Risk Factor of Birth Outcomes
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Homelessness During Pregnancy: A Unique, Time-Dependent Risk Factor of Birth Outcomes

Diana Cutts, Sharon Coleman, Maureen Black, Mariana Chilton, John Cook, Stephanie de Cuba, Timothy Heeren, Alan Meyers, Megan Sandel, Patrick Casey, …
Maternal and child health journal, v 19(6), pp 1276-1283
Jun 2015
PMID: 25404405

Abstract

Population Economics Pediatrics Maternal Public Health Preterm delivery Gynecology Housing Pregnancy Homeless Medicine & Public Health Low birth weight (LBW) Maternal and Child Health Sociology, general
Evaluate homelessness during pregnancy as a unique, time-dependent risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. 9,995 mothers of children <48 months old surveyed at emergency departments and primary care clinics in five US cities. Mothers were classified as either homeless during pregnancy with the index child, homeless only after the index child’s birth, or consistently housed. Outcomes included birth weight as a continuous variable, as well as categorical outcomes of low birth weight (LBW; <2,500 g) and preterm delivery (<37 weeks). Multiple logistic regression and adjusted linear regression analyses were performed, comparing prenatal and postnatal homelessness with the referent group of consistently housed mothers, controlling for maternal demographic characteristics, smoking, and child age at interview. Prenatal homelessness was associated with higher adjusted odds of LBW (AOR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.14, 1.80, p < 0.01) and preterm delivery (AOR 1.24, 95 % CI 0.98, 1.56, p = 0.08), and a 53 g lower adjusted mean birth weight (p = 0.08). Postnatal homelessness was not associated with these outcomes. Prenatal homelessness is an independent risk factor for LBW, rather than merely a marker of adverse maternal and social characteristics associated with homelessness. Targeted interventions to provide housing and health care to homeless women during pregnancy may result in improved birth outcomes.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#1 No Poverty
#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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