Abstract
BackgroundAdverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with an array of health consequences in later life, but few studies have examined the effects of ACEs on women’s birth outcomes.MethodsWe analyzed data gathered from a sample of 1848 low-income women who received services from home visiting programs in Wisconsin. Archival program records from a public health database were used to create three birth outcomes reflecting each participant’s reproductive health history: any pregnancy loss; any preterm birth; any low birthweight. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to test the linear and non-linear effects of ACEs on birth outcomes, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and education.ResultsDescriptive analyses showed that 84.4% of women had at least one ACE, and that 68.2% reported multiple ACEs. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that cumulative ACE scores were associated with an increased likelihood of pregnancy loss (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.08–1.17), preterm birth (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.01–1.12), and low birthweight (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.03–1.15). Additional analyses revealed that the ACE-birthweight association deviated from a linear, dose-response pattern.ConclusionsFindings confirmed that high levels of childhood adversity are associated with poor birth outcomes. Alongside additive risk models, future ACE research should test interactive risk models and causal mechanisms through which childhood adversity compromises reproductive health.
Highlights
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with an array of health consequences in later life, but few studies have examined the effects of ACEs on women’s birth outcomes
In addition to testing linear associations, we explore whether the relationship between ACEs and birth outcomes is non-linear, the hypothesis being that effects are observable only once participants are exposed to a high number of ACEs
Participants endorsed 3.2 ACEs (SD = 2.6); 84.4% of subjects reported at least one ACE, 68.2% reported two or more ACEs, and 29.8% reported 5 or more ACEs
Summary
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with an array of health consequences in later life, but few studies have examined the effects of ACEs on women’s birth outcomes. Seminal findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study did show that higher ACE scores were associated with an increased risk of fetal death [10] Extending these findings, the National Child Development Study in Great Britain documented a positive graded relationship between a greater number of childhood hardships and the likelihood of preterm birth [11]. The National Child Development Study in Great Britain documented a positive graded relationship between a greater number of childhood hardships and the likelihood of preterm birth [11] These results were reinforced by a recent Canadian study that found two or more ACEs roughly doubled the risk of preterm birth [12].
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