Relationship Of Socioeconomic Status Research Articles

Association of dental caries with socioeconomic status in relation to different water fluoridation levels.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries in 11-year-old children, related to water fluoridation and family affluence scale (FAS), as an indicator of socioeconomic status (SES) in Korea. A total of eight areas were selected for study: four areas with fluoridated piped water (WF areas) and four areas with nonfluoridated piped water (non-WF areas). Non-WF areas had a similar economic level and population size compared with the WF areas. A total of 1446 elementary school students, 11years of age, were included. They were examined, and questionnaires completed by their parents were analyzed. In the questionnaire, information about gender, FAS as an indicator of SES, occasions of daily cariogenic snack intake, occasions of daily cariogenic beverage intake, drinking of piped water, cooking with piped water, and usage of oral hygiene supplemental measures were surveyed. The bivariate association between the characteristics of the subjects and the number of decayed, filled, and missing permanent teeth (DMFT score) was analyzed through an independent samples t-test. The difference in the mean DMFT score between different FAS groups was analyzed by DMFT ratio, after adjusting for gender, oral health behaviors, and usage of piped water variables. The DMFT ratio was calculated from a Poisson regression model, because the DMFT score was not normally distributed. There was no significant association between FAS and the mean DMFT score in both areas, by bivariate analysis. After adjusting for each group of confounders, a significant association (95% CI: 1.032-1.513) was found between the FAS and mean DMFT scores in non-WF areas; however, no significant difference was observed in the WF areas (95% CI: 0.766-1.382). This study supported that water fluoridation could not only lead to a lower prevalence of dental caries, but also help to reduce the effect of SES inequalities on oral health.

Gender differences and socioeconomic status in relation to overweight among older Korean people.

BackgroundThe ever-increasing older population and its association with serious overweight problems have garnered much attention. The correlation between being overweight and socioeconomic status factors could be helpful for understanding the inequalities among the overweight population. We examined the correlation between being overweight and some key variables, such as demographics, socioeconomic status, general health status, and health behavior in a large sample of older individuals, by each gender.MethodsWe used data from the 2008 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging and it included 8,157 participants who were 45 years or older. To understand the relationship between the overweight participants in accordance to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health status, and health behaviors, a weighted chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were conducted by separating variables related to overweight, according to the genders.ResultsThe number of people in the normal group was 6,347 (77.8%), while the people who were considered overweight were 1,810 (22.2%). Women (n = 4,583) constituted 52.7% of the subject, 24.9% of whom were classified as overweight. Meanwhile, 20.6% of the 47.3% (n = 3,574) of the sample who were men were classified as overweight. Participants between the ages of 45 and 64 with chronic diseases were more likely to be overweight. Men in the 4th quartile of household income were more likely to be overweight than those who were in the 1st quartile, in contrast, while unemployed women with lower education levels and urban residents were at greater risk for being overweight.ConclusionsAmong the men, health status and health behavior appeared to show a correlation with being overweight; however, among women, socioeconomic status factors were strongly related to being overweight. These findings appear to support the association of gender-specifics with the prevalence of being overweight.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Cancer Mortality in the Black Women's Health Study, 1995–2011

Abstract Neighborhood socioeconomic status has been associated with a range of cancer health outcomes, but longitudinal data in African Americans, who tend to live in more deprived neighborhoods, is lacking. We assessed the relation of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) to cancer mortality in a prospective cohort of African American women. Participants enrolled in the Black Women's Health Study in 1995 by completing mailed questionnaires. Exposure information and incident diagnoses are updated through biennial questionnaires. Neighborhood SES was measured by a factor score based on census block group data for 6 indicators of income and education – median household income, median housing value, percent of households receiving interest/dividend/rental income, percent of adults who are college graduates, percent of white-collar workers, and percent of households not headed by a single female. Deaths through 2011 and cause of death were identified through linkage to the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with control for age, education, marital status, cigarette smoking, physical activity, time spent watching TV, and dietary pattern. Based on 819 cancer deaths that occurred from 1995–2011, neighborhood SES was inversely associated with cancer mortality. The age-adjusted HR for lowest quartile of neighborhood SES relative to highest quartile was 1.63, 95% CI 1.33–2.00; control for covariates reduced the HR to 1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.60. In analyses restricted to participants with 16 or more years of education, the multivariable HR for lowest relative to highest quartile of neighborhood SES was 1.38 (95% CI 1.01–1.90). Our results suggest that neighborhood SES is associated with an individual's risk of cancer mortality and that the association is mediated in part by diet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. The finding that this association was present even among college graduates is of particular relevance to African Americans, who are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods regardless of their individual income or educational attainment.

Socioeconomic status in relation to incident fracture risk in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

We examined baseline and annual follow-up data (through annual follow-up visit 9) from a cohort of 2,234 women aged 42 to 52 years at baseline. Independent of financial status, higher educational level was associated with lower fracture incidence among non-Caucasian women but not among Caucasian women. This study was conducted to determine the associations of education and income with fracture incidence among midlife women over 9 years of follow-up. We examined baseline and annual follow-up data (through annual follow-up visit 9) from 2,234 participants of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a cohort of women aged 42 to 52 years at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the associations of socioeconomic predictors (education, family-adjusted poverty-to-income ratio, and difficulty paying for basics) with time to first incident nontraumatic, nondigital, noncraniofacial fracture. Independent of family-adjusted poverty-to-income ratio, higher educational level was associated with decreased time to first incident fracture among non-Caucasian women but not among Caucasian women (p(interaction) 0.02). Compared with non-Caucasian women who completed no more than high school education, non-Caucasian women who attained at least some postgraduate education had 87% lower rates of incident nontraumatic fracture (adjusted hazard ratio 0.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.60). Among non-Caucasian women, each additional year of education was associated with a 16% lower odds of nontraumatic fracture (adjusted odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.73-0.97). Income, family-adjusted poverty-to-income ratio, and degree of difficulty paying for basic needs were not associated with time to first fracture in Caucasian or non-Caucasian women. Among non-Caucasian midlife women, higher education, but not higher income, was associated with lower fracture incidence. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the possible protective effects of higher educational level on nontraumatic fracture incidence may allow us to better target individuals at risk of future fracture.

Atrial septal defect (secundum) with tricuspid regurgitation in a young adult cadaver

This report describes a case of a young adult cadaver found to be having atrial septal defect (ASD) of secundum type along with tricuspid regurgitation during routine dissection by medical students. The ASD had a maximum diameter of 8 mm. The report discusses the embryological development of the interatrial septum along with the possible development of this anomaly. The article goes on to discuss the natural history of ASDs of the secundum type, the modes of investigation used today and the significance of socioeconomic status in relation to ASD.

Relationship of Socioeconomic Status with Psychological State and the Number of Weeks of Pregnancy at the Time of a First Prenatal Examination among Perinatal Women

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is correlated with morbidity and mortality rates, in addition to people of a lower social status. Many of such people have health-related problems and do not undergo a regular health checkup or consult a medical practitioner. We investigated whether a correlation exists between SES, psychological state and the number of weeks of gestation at the time of the first examination. We clarified the influence of SES on the subjects' life events (e.g. pregnancy and childbirth), in order to understand appropriate support measures. Methods: A total of 151 female study subjects were selected from among women hospitalized for postpartum care, who underwent prenatal checkups, and delivered their children in the study center. Questionnaire surveys, one of which involved an interview, were conducted in a cross-sectional manner for the subjects' during their pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Results: The results show that women who perceived financial constraints showed a significantly stronger tendency to develop depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that women whose partners had an educational background of junior high school level underwent their first gestational examination at week 12 or later of pregnancy (odds ratio of 10.99, P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 3.15–86.79). Conclusion: The present study suggests the importance of observing the correlation between SES and health among pregnant women, such that strategic interventional services can be provided to such persons.

Cross-level interaction between individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status in relation to social trust in a Japanese community

This study explores whether cross-level interaction between individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with social trust. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with 4123 randomly selected people aged 20 years and older from 72 districts in the city of Kashiwa in 2009, and 1720 questionnaires were analysed. People of low SES tended to have higher trust in the national government and lower trust in neighbours as residential district SES increased. By contrast, people of high SES had relatively constant levels of both general and local aspects of social trust, despite local district SES. We found that perceptions of trust among people of low SES are more likely to be influenced by district-level SES than among people of high SES. This highlights the importance of considering the cross-level interaction of individual and neighbourhood SES as this interaction can either raise or lower social trust in communities.

Relationship of socioeconomic status with health behaviors and self-perceived health in the elderly: A community-based study, Turkey

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of socioeconomic status on health behaviors and perceived health. The present cross-sectional study included 2947 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. Dependent variables were health behaviors and self-perceived health. The independent variable was socioeconomic status. In men, the risk of unhealthy diet was higher among the uneducated group (OR 4.48) and among those with poor/very poor economic status (OR 3.31). Additionally, in men, having poor/very poor self-perceived health was found to be 3.50-fold significantly higher among the uneducated group than the secondary school and higher-educated group. Lower education level and lower social class were found to be protective factors for smoking in women. In women, the risk of unhealthy diet was found to be 1.54- and 2.18-fold significantly higher, respectively, among those who graduated from primary school and uneducated. There was also a relationship between poor/very poor economic status and unhealthy diet among elderly women (OR 2.80). In women, the risk of physical inactivity was found to be 1.98-fold significantly higher in the uneducated group and 1.79-fold significantly higher in those with poor/very poor economic status, 0.33-fold significantly lower in skilled employees/white collar workers. With regard to self-perceived health status, education level and perceived economic status were significantly related to poor/very poor health status in women (OR 2.09 and OR 4.08, respectively). In older men and women, lower socioeconomic status increases the risk of unhealthy diet and poor health perception. In older women, lower socioeconomic status is a protective factor for smoking, but it also increases physical inactivity.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children: Race and Socioeconomic Status

Although chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common in children, the influence of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on the diagnosis/treatment of CRS has not been evaluated. We describe the epidemiology of children with CRS in a pediatric otolaryngology clinic and evaluate demographic differences when compared to a group of children referred for a general pediatric otolaryngology evaluation. Historical cohort study. Tertiary academic care center. All new/consult patients (March 1, 2008-July 1, 2011) in a tertiary pediatric otolaryngology clinic with primary diagnosis of CRS were compared to a control group that consisted of all new/consult patients seen in the same clinic over 3 months. Records were evaluated for variables including age, sex, race, and insurance. Characteristics were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney and Fisher's exact tests. One hundred and seventy-four children with CRS were compared to 430 controls. When compared to the general pediatric otolaryngology population, children with CRS were older (8.2 ± 4.4 years vs 5.9 ± 4.8 years; P < .0001) and more commonly male (63% vs 52%; P = .018). When compared to controls, children with CRS were more likely to be white (CRS 77% white, 10% black, 13% other vs control 47% white, 33% black, 20% other; P < .0001, risk ratio [RR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-3.7). Likewise, children with CRS were less commonly insured with medical assistance (CRS 14% vs control 44%; P < .0001; RR = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.21-0.45). When compared to the general population of children seen in this academic urban pediatric otolaryngology setting, children with CRS were more likely to be white and privately insured. This study is the first to evaluate race and SES in relationship to pediatric CRS. Future research should employ nationally representative data to assess the true demographic variation in children with CRS.

Influence of neighborhood household income on early death or urgent hospital readmission

The relationship of socioeconomic status (SES) with hospital readmissions is unclear. We used population-based administrative datasets to randomly select 40,827 adult Ontarians discharged from hospital to the community. Patient postal codes were linked to average neighborhood household-income quintiles. The association of this SES measure with 30-day death or urgent readmission was measured after controlling for outcome risk using a validated index, LACE+: length of stay (L), acuity of the admission (A), comorbidity of the patient (measured with the Charlson Comorbidity Index score (C), and emergency-department use (E). Within 1 month of discharge, 2638 (6.5%) people died or were urgently readmitted. Lower neighborhood income was significantly associated with both an increased outcome risk (P < 0.0001) and LACE+ score. After adjusting for LACE+ score, neighborhood income was no longer associated with 30-day death or urgent readmission (P = 0.21). After accounting for known risk factors, early death or readmission is not more common in people from lower-income neighborhoods. Further study is required to determine if SES is associated with adverse postdischarge outcomes in settings without publicly funded healthcare.

Factors associated with cardiovascular multimorbidity among primary care patients in southern China

Purpose Management of the rising prevalence of long-term conditions is one of the major challenges facing China’s current primary care reform. Better understanding of factors associated with cardiovascular multimorbidity is necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy to support primary care physicians in China to provide patient-centred and continuous care. This study aimed to examine factors on individual socio-economic status in relation to the prevalence of cardiovascular multimorbidity among patients in primary care. Methods The study settings were the community health centres (CHCs) in Guangdong province in southern China. Multistage cluster sampling methods were adopted to select patients aged above 18 who had a usual source of primary care. Socio-demographic characteristics and health care information of patients were collected during November 2010 to April 2011 by on-site face-to-face interviews and paper-based medical record. Factors associated with cardiovascular multimorbidity were explored using one binary logistic regression model. Results The data from a total number of 5,370 Chinese primary care patients were analysed and 7.1% (95% CI: 6.4–7.8%) developed at least two cardiovascular conditions. However, more than one fourth (27.5%; 95% CI: 24.4–30.7%) of patients aged above 65 years were cardiovascularmultimorbid. Advanced age (aged above 65 years; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.48; 95% CI: 4.21–7.13, p Conclusion Our study implied that cardiovascular multimorbidity were more likely to occur among older patients and those who had higher income with household registry in the primary care setting. Further longitudinal studies are also needed to explore the associations with cardiovascular multimortality thus to provide evidence on how best to organise tailor-made disease management services for people suffering from cardiovascular multimorbidity.

Socioeconomic Status, Psychosocial Factors, Race and Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping in a Hispanic Cohort

Little information is available about the relationship of socioeconomic status (SES) to blunted nocturnal ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) dipping among Hispanics and whether this relationship differs by race. We sought to characterize ABP nondipping and its determinants in a sample of Hispanics. We enrolled 180 Hispanic participants not on antihypertensive medications. SES was defined by years of educational attainment. All participants underwent 24-hour ABP monitoring. A decrease of <10% in the ratio between average awake and average asleep systolic BP was considered nondipping. The mean age of the cohort was 67.1 ± 8.7, mean educational level was 9.4 ± 4.4 years, and 58.9% of the cohort was female. The cohort was comprised of 78.3% Caribbean Hispanics with the rest from Mexico and Central/South America; 41.4% self-identified as white Hispanic, 34.4% self-identified as black Hispanic, and 24.4% did not racially self- identify. The percentage of nondippers was 57.8%. Educational attainment (10.5 years vs. 8.6 years; P <0.01) was significantly higher among dippers than nondippers. In multivariable analyses, each 1-year increase in education was associated with a 9% reduction in the likelihood of being a nondipper (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.98; P = 0.01). There were significantly greater odds of being a nondipper for black Hispanics than for white Hispanics (OR, 2.83, 95% CI, 1.29-6.23; P = 0.005). Higher SES was significantly protective of nondipping in white Hispanics but not black Hispanics. These results document a substantial prevalence of nondipping in a cohort of predominantly normotensive Hispanics. Dipping status varied significantly by race. Lower SES is significantly associated with nondipping status, and race potentially impacts on this relation.

Gender and Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Weight Perception and Weight Control Behavior in Korean Adults

Aim: In Korea, obesity is more prevalent among men and lower socioeconomic groups. To explain this obesity disparity, we compared weight perception and weight control behavior across gender and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: We analyzed data from 16,260 participants aged 20 years or older in a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. SES indicators included education and income levels. Weight under-perception was defined when participants considered themselves lighter than their measured BMI status. Either no active or inappropriate weight control (i.e., trying to gain weight in obese individuals) was considered to be unhealthy patterns. Multivariate prevalence ratios were calculated using log-binomial regressions. Results: Men had a higher prevalence of weight under-perception (24.5 vs. 11.9%) and unhealthy patterns of weight control behavior (57 vs. 40%) than women. Low education level was associated with weight under-perception (p_trend = 0.022 in men, p_trend < 0.001 in women). Both education and income levels were significantly associated with patterns of weight control behavior (for education: p_trend < 0.001 in men and women; for income: p_trend = 0.047 in men, p_trend < 0.001 in women). Conclusion: Weight perception and weight control behavior significantly varied by gender and SES. Public actions should be directed toward improving perception and behavior of high-risk populations.

A Study of Academic Achievement Among Turkish ELT Students

The present study investigated the Academic Achievement of Turkish ELT students using a sample of 400 freshman students from state universities in Ankara, Turkey. The data for the study were collected through a questionnaire consisting of 61 items measuring ELT students’ self-concept, study habits and socioeconomic status in relation to their academic achievement.The results of the study indicated that there was significant association between self- concept and academic achievement among boys and girls, also positive and significant relation between study habits and academic achievement. As for socioeconomic status, there was significant relationship between socioeconomic status and academic achievement among the groups.

Abstract P3-07-13: Importance of socioeconomic status in relation to breast cancer risk and prognostic factors in Argentina.

Abstract In Argentina, there are no studies evaluating neither breast cancer screening nor risk and prognostic factors in relation to socioeconomic status among women in metropolitan areas. Taking into account that Argentina presents social and economical disparities and that there is a mixture of features of both developed and developing societies, it is interesting to compare prognostic and risk factors in disadvantaged and advantaged women as it would clarify the influence of socioeconomic factors in breast cancer biology. The purpose of this study was to compare risk and prognostic factors of invasive breast cancer in two different Argentine populations. Study participants and data collection. A total of 625 women who had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of invasive primary breast cancer were included; 270 patients belonged to a private clinic of the city of La Plata (province of Buenos Aires) belonging to an Advantaged Population (AP) and 355 patients belonged to a public hospital of the city of Neuquén (province of Neuquén, Patagonia) belonging to a Disadvantaged Population (DP). Women of these geographical regions and first diagnosed with invasive primary breast carcinoma from 2002 until 2007 were eligible as cases. There were no racial or ethnic differences between the two groups of women; all of them were born in Argentina. Risk factors included age at diagnosis, menarche and menopause status, breastfeeding and parity, while prognostic factors were: disease stage, number of metastatic lymph nodes, tumor size, histological and nuclear grade, vascular invasion, ER, PR, and Her2neu statuses. Methods: Statistical analysis included frequency analysis and ANOVA (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Results: A remarkable difference between the two populations was found: the age at diagnosis was significantly lower in DP than in AP: 63% of DP versus 44% of AP was &amp;lt;55 years old. AP stage III was observed at X = 49 years old versus DP at X = 54 years old; cutaneous and/or thoracic wall invasion was found at diagnosis in 15.4% of DP, while it was absent in all APs. Both groups showed advanced stages in younger patients. In general, tumor size versus age showed a negative relationship (p &amp;lt; 0.04); this observation was only significant for AP (p &amp;lt; 0.02). ER, PR expression, and Her2neu status presented differences between the two populations. Percentage of AP patients with positive ER were 78.8%, positive PR: 79.5%; while Her2-neu positive status was found in 5.3%. In the case of DP patients, positive percentages were: ER: 66.3%, PR: 51.2%; and finally Her2-neu: 38.8%. Histological and nuclear grade DP compared to AP were significantly higher, while vascular and lymphatic invasion showed the inverse DP: 30% versus AP: 18%, p &amp;lt; 0.01. Taking into account the number of children, significant differences between groups were found: DP, 2.8+/−0.11 while AP, 1.9+/−0.13 (media +/− standard error). In general, it was observed that patients who had breastfed presented lower number of metastatic lymph nodes than those who had not. Conclusions: Patients belonging to these two different geographical regions constitute two different populations. Breastfeeding and number of children, considered in relation to socio-economic features, are important risk factors of invasive breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-13.

'Treats', 'sometimes foods', 'junk': a qualitative study exploring 'extra foods' with parents of young children.

The present study investigated parents' understanding and approaches to providing energy-dense and nutrient-poor 'extra foods' to pre-school children and explored variation between parents of low and high socio-economic status in relation to these issues. We conducted thirteen focus groups. Data were subject to framework analysis. Child-care centres in distinctly socially disadvantaged and socially advantaged areas. Eighty-eight parents of children aged 3-5 years. The three most common terms parents identified to describe foods that are not 'everyday foods' were 'treats', 'sometimes foods' and 'junk'. Parents' perceptions regarding what influences them in providing food to their children included seven sub-themes: (i) the influence of the child; (ii) food-related parenting practices; (iii) health considerations; (iv) food costs and convenience; (v) external factors perceived as influencing their child; (vi) factors related to child care; and (vii) social influences and occasions. Parents' decision-making processes regarding provision of 'extra foods' related to moderation and balance. Parents generally expressed the position that as long as a child is eating healthy foods, then treats are appropriate; and for many parents, this might apply frequently. All groups described the health of their child as an influence, but parents in low socio-economic groups were more likely to describe immediate concerns (dental health, behaviour) in relation to avoiding sugar-dense food or drink. The belief that provision of 'extra foods' can be frequent as long as children are eating a healthy balance of foods is factored into parents' decision making. Challenging this belief may be important for reducing the consumption of 'extra foods' by young children.

Individual and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Breast Cancer Incidence in African-American Women

Socioeconomic status (SES) for both individuals and neighborhoods has been positively associated with incidence of breast cancer, although not consistently. The authors conducted an assessment of these factors among African-American women, based on data from the Black Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort study of 59,000 African-American women from all regions of the United States. Individual SES was defined as the participant's self-reported level of education, and neighborhood SES was measured by a score based on census block group data for 6 indicators of income and education. Analyses included 1,343 incident breast cancer cases identified during follow-up from 1995 through 2009. In age-adjusted analyses, SES for both individuals and neighborhoods was associated with an increased incidence of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The associations were attenuated by control for parity and age at first birth, and there was no association after further control for other breast cancer risk factors. These findings suggest that the observed associations of breast cancer with SES may be largely mediated by reproductive factors that are associated with both estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and SES.

Development and Validation of a Measure of Living Standards for Older People

Living standards are an effective way to assess socioeconomic status in relation to health but controversy remains about their assessment, particularly for older people. Sen’s capability framework shifts attention from material conditions to opportunities for choice enabled by material resources. To develop this promising approach, this paper reports on the development of a measure of living standards for older people based on Sen’s capability framework. Six living standards domains were established from thematic analysis of 143 interviews with people aged over 65 years in New Zealand. Questionnaire items were developed and tested to assess the extent to which older people had the freedom to pursue these domains. The 73 items were tested for face validity in interviews. Following this, a revised version was posted to 2,000 people aged over 65 years randomly selected from the New Zealand electoral roll and 1,064 completed questionnaires were returned. Item screening for response rates and spread reduced the items to 34. Confirmatory factor analysis of these 34 items suggested that the six theoretical domains were supported. Following model development, 25 items assessing the six domains were selected. Results to date show that this measure of living standards (LS-Cap) is a promising instrument to assess living standards as the freedom to access valued needs.

218 Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Early Childhood. The ABCD-Study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore the relations of socioeconomic status to lipid and glucose metabolism as indicators of cardiovascular health in 5–6 year olds.MethodsIn 1308 5–6 year...

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Preterm Birth in a U.S. Cohort of Black Women

This study examines the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and preterm birth among U.S. black women. A composite variable for neighborhood SES, derived from 7 U.S. Census Bureau indicators, was assessed in relation to self-reported preterm birth (505 spontaneous and 452 medically indicated) among 6,390 women in the Black Women's Health Study who delivered singleton births during 1995-2003. The odds ratio (OR) for preterm birth, comparing the lowest (most deprived) to the highest (least deprived) quartiles of neighborhood SES, was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.80, 1.20) after adjustment for individual-level characteristics. Low neighborhood SES was not associated with spontaneous or medically indicated preterm birth overall or within strata of maternal age, education, or geographic region. The only significant finding was higher odds of medically indicated preterm birth associated with low neighborhood SES among unmarried women. Low neighborhood SES was not materially associated with preterm birth in this study of U.S. Black women.