Health of Newborns and Infants Born to Women With Disabilities: The Life Course Perspective.

Abstract

In this issue of Pediatrics , Tarasoff et al1 present the results of their systematic review and meta-analysis of the risks to newborns and infants of mothers with disabilities. The research they undertook underscores the importance of health care professionals addressing both the life course perspective and barriers to health equity. The authors found that newborns of women with “any” physical, sensory, and intellectual and/or developmental disability were at an elevated risk for preterm birth and low birth weight. Some of the studies revealed an elevated risk for other adverse neonatal and infant outcomes. The authors rightfully frame their findings in the context of socioeconomic and health disparities for individuals with disabilities. The elevated risk experienced by mothers with disabilities should come as no surprise because preterm birth and low birth weight are heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors,2 which frequently co-occur with disabilities. In addition, people with disabilities experience higher rates of unmet health care needs.3,4 Disability is common. In 2018, 12.9% of Americans were limited in their usual activities because of chronic health conditions.5 The prevalence of disability increases with age, such that 6.5% of adults between the ages of 18 and 44 years (the typical childbearing years) have disabilities, compared with 43.9% of Americans ≥75 years old.5 Notably, disability among children is on the rise,6 indicating that we should anticipate greater … Address correspondence to Dennis Z. Kuo, MD, MHS, UBMD Pediatrics, 1001 Main St, 5th Floor, Buffalo, NY 14203. E-mail: dkuo{at}upa.chob.edu