679: Prenatal smoke exposure: effects on placental gene expression and auditory system

Abstract

disparities. In this project, birth outcomes were examined for clients served by the Healthy Babies program in the Sedgwick County Health Department. The target population was women living in 3 zip codes with high rates of prematurity and infant mortality in Wichita, KS. Educational and social services were provided under the federallyfunded Northeast Wichita Healthy Start Initiative (NEWHSI). In the present analysis, NEWHSI clients were compared to non-NEWHSI clients residing within the same 3 high-risk zip codes. STUDY DESIGN: De-identified birth certificate data from 2005 and 2006 were used to compare birth outcomes for non-Hispanic white, black and Hispanic women living in NEWHSI target zip code areas (n 3,644 of whom 106 were NEWHSI clients). The main outcome measures were very low birth weight ( 1500g), moderately low birth weight (1500g2500g), preterm birth ( 37 weeks) and prenatal care. RESULTS: Most Healthy Babies NEWHSI clients received prenatal care within the 1st trimester and 100% received some prenatal care; findings were similar for non-clients. NEWHSI clients were more likely to be teen mothers than women in the community (e.g. in 2006, 25% vs. 4.2%, respectively, p .001). Rates of very low birth weight were 2.7% for non-clients and 0% for NEWHSI clients. The rate of preterm birth decreased among NEWHSI clients from 11% in 2005 to 3% in 2006. CONCLUSION: Healthy Babies NEWHSI clients had a high rate of teen and first-time mothers yet displayed similar or better prenatal care and birth outcomes as non-clients. Results indicate that the NEWHSI program was successful in recruiting at-risk mothers. Findings reveal a continued need for preventive efforts such as the Healthy Babies NEWHSI program to work toward improving poor birth outcomes in the community.