IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v60y2005i10p2217-2228.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Race and ethnic differences in determinants of preterm birth in the USA: broadening the social context

Author

Listed:
  • Reagan, Patricia B.
  • Salsberry, Pamela J.

Abstract

Preterm births occur in 9.7% of all US singleton births. The rate for blacks is double that of whites and the rate is 25% higher for Hispanics than for whites. While a number of individual correlates with preterm birth have been identified, race and ethnic differences have not been fully explained. Influenced by a growing body of literature documenting a relationship among health, individual income, and neighborhood disadvantage, researchers interested in explaining racial differences in preterm birth are designing studies that extend beyond the individual. No studies of adverse birth outcomes have considered contextual effects beyond the neighborhood level. Only a handful of studies, comparing blacks and whites, have evaluated the influence of neighborhood disadvantage on preterm birth. This study examines how preterm birth among blacks, whites and Hispanics is influenced by social context, broadly defined to include measures of neighborhood disadvantage and cumulative exposure to state-level income inequality, controlling for individual risk factors. Neighborhood disadvantage is determined by Census tract data. Cumulative exposure to income inequality is measured by the fraction of the mother's life since age 14 spent residing in states with a state-level Gini coefficient above the median. The results for neighborhood disadvantage are highly sensitive across race/ethnicities to the measure used. We find evidence that neighborhood poverty rates and housing vacancy rates increased the rate of very preterm birth and decreased the rate of moderately preterm birth for blacks. The rate of very preterm increased with the fraction of female-headed households for Hispanics and decreased with the fraction of people employed in professional occupations for whites. We find direct effects of cumulative exposure to income inequality only for Hispanics. However, we do find indirect effects of context broadly defined on behaviors that increased the risk of preterm birth.

Suggested Citation

  • Reagan, Patricia B. & Salsberry, Pamela J., 2005. "Race and ethnic differences in determinants of preterm birth in the USA: broadening the social context," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(10), pages 2217-2228, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:10:p:2217-2228
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277-9536(04)00516-7
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Subramanian, S. V. & Kawachi, Ichiro & Kennedy, Bruce P., 2001. "Does the state you live in make a difference? Multilevel analysis of self-rated health in the US," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 9-19, July.
    2. Pearl, M. & Braveman, P. & Abrams, B., 2001. "The relationship of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics to birthweight among 5 ethnic groups in California," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(11), pages 1808-1814.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Messer, Lynne C. & Vinikoor, Lisa C. & Laraia, Barbara A. & Kaufman, Jay S. & Eyster, Janet & Holzman, Claudia & Culhane, Jennifer & Elo, Irma & Burke, Jessica G. & O'Campo, Patricia, 2008. "Socioeconomic domains and associations with preterm birth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(8), pages 1247-1257, October.
    2. Kristin B. Ashford & Mary Kay Rayens, 2015. "Ethnicity, Smoking Status, and Preterm Birth as Predictors of Maternal Locus of Control," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 24(2), pages 172-187, April.
    3. M. Luke Smith & Rachel R. Hardeman, 2020. "Association of Summer Heat Waves and the Probability of Preterm Birth in Minnesota: An Exploration of the Intersection of Race and Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Kravdal, Øystein, 2009. "Mortality effects of average education in current and earlier municipality of residence among internal migrants, net of their own education," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 1484-1492, November.
    5. Masi, Christopher M. & Hawkley, Louise C. & Harry Piotrowski, Z. & Pickett, Kate E., 2007. "Neighborhood economic disadvantage, violent crime, group density, and pregnancy outcomes in a diverse, urban population," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(12), pages 2440-2457, December.
    6. Daniel Kim & Adrianna Saada, 2013. "The Social Determinants of Infant Mortality and Birth Outcomes in Western Developed Nations: A Cross-Country Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-40, June.
    7. Ncube, Collette N. & Enquobahrie, Daniel A. & Albert, Steven M. & Herrick, Amy L. & Burke, Jessica G., 2016. "Association of neighborhood context with offspring risk of preterm birth and low birthweight: A systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 156-164.
    8. Wilkinson, Richard G & Pickett, Kate E., 2006. "Income inequality and population health: A review and explanation of the evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(7), pages 1768-1784, April.
    9. Amanda T. Charette & Mary B. Collins & Jaime E. Mirowsky, 2021. "Assessing residential socioeconomic factors associated with pollutant releases using EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(2), pages 247-257, June.
    10. Inagami, Sanae & Cohen, Deborah A. & Finch, Brian K., 2007. "Non-residential neighborhood exposures suppress neighborhood effects on self-rated health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(8), pages 1779-1791, October.
    11. Veni Kandasamy & Ashley H Hirai & Jay S Kaufman & Arthur R James & Milton Kotelchuck, 2020. "Regional variation in Black infant mortality: The contribution of contextual factors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, August.
    12. Reagan, Patricia B. & Salsberry, Pamela J. & Olsen, Randall J., 2007. "Does the measure of economic disadvantage matter? Exploring the effect of individual and relative deprivation on intrauterine growth restriction," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 2016-2029, May.
    13. Auger, Nathalie & Park, Alison L. & Gamache, Philippe & Pampalon, Robert & Daniel, Mark, 2012. "Weighing the contributions of material and social area deprivation to preterm birth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(6), pages 1032-1037.
    14. Tiedje, LindaBeth & Holzman, Claudia B. & De Vos, Eric & Jia, Xu & Korzeniewski, Steve & Rahbar, Mohammad H. & Goble, Monica M. & Kallen, David, 2008. "Hostility and anomie: Links to preterm delivery subtypes and ambulatory blood pressure at mid-pregnancy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(6), pages 1310-1321, March.
    15. Paul, Kathleen & Boutain, Doris & Manhart, Lisa & Hitti, Jane, 2008. "Racial disparity in bacterial vaginosis: the role of socioeconomic status, psychosocial stress, and neighborhood characteristics, and possible implications for preterm birth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 824-833, September.
    16. Schempf, Ashley & Strobino, Donna & O'Campo, Patricia, 2009. "Neighborhood effects on birthweight: An exploration of psychosocial and behavioral pathways in Baltimore, 1995-1996," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 100-110, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tonny J. Oyana & Patricia Matthews-Juarez & Stephania A. Cormier & Xiaoran Xu & Paul D. Juarez, 2015. "Using an External Exposome Framework to Examine Pregnancy-Related Morbidities and Mortalities: Implications for Health Disparities Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Subramanian, S.V. & Acevedo-Garcia, Dolores & Osypuk, Theresa L., 2005. "Racial residential segregation and geographic heterogeneity in black/white disparity in poor self-rated health in the US: a multilevel statistical analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(8), pages 1667-1679, April.
    3. repec:pri:crcwel:wp06-31-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Laura J. Brown & Sarah Myers & Abigail E. Page & Emily H. Emmott, 2020. "Subjective Environmental Experiences and Women’s Breastfeeding Journeys: A Survival Analysis Using an Online Survey of UK Mothers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-27, October.
    5. De Clercq, B. & Vyncke, V. & Hublet, A. & Elgar, F.J. & Ravens-Sieberer, U. & Currie, C. & Hooghe, M. & Ieven, A. & Maes, L., 2012. "Social capital and social inequality in adolescents’ health in 601 Flemish communities: A multilevel analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 202-210.
    6. Filippa Bono & Maria Francesca Cracolici & Miranda Cuffaro, 2017. "A Hierarchical Model for Analysing Consumption Patterns in Italy Before and During the Great Recession," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 421-436, November.
    7. Riumallo-Herl, Carlos Javier & Kawachi, Ichiro & Avendano, Mauricio, 2014. "Social capital, mental health and biomarkers in Chile: Assessing the effects of social capital in a middle-income country," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 47-58.
    8. Semaan, Salaam & Sternberg, Maya & Zaidi, Akbar & Aral, Sevgi O., 2007. "Social capital and rates of gonorrhea and syphilis in the United States: Spatial regression analyses of state-level associations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(11), pages 2324-2341, June.
    9. Timothy W. Collins & Young-an Kim & Sara E. Grineski & Stephanie Clark-Reyna, 2014. "Can Economic Deprivation Protect Health? Paradoxical Multilevel Effects of Poverty on Hispanic Children’s Wheezing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, August.
    10. Auger, Nathalie & Park, Alison L. & Gamache, Philippe & Pampalon, Robert & Daniel, Mark, 2012. "Weighing the contributions of material and social area deprivation to preterm birth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(6), pages 1032-1037.
    11. Mansyur, Carol & Amick, Benjamin C. & Harrist, Ronald B. & Franzini, Luisa, 2008. "Social capital, income inequality, and self-rated health in 45 countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 43-56, January.
    12. Bowling, Ann & Stafford, Mai, 2007. "How do objective and subjective assessments of neighbourhood influence social and physical functioning in older age? Findings from a British survey of ageing," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(12), pages 2533-2549, June.
    13. Engström, Karin & Mattsson, Fredrik & Järleborg, Anders & Hallqvist, Johan, 2008. "Contextual social capital as a risk factor for poor self-rated health: A multilevel analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(11), pages 2268-2280, June.
    14. Lundborg, Petter, 2005. "Social capital and substance use among Swedish adolescents--an explorative study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(6), pages 1151-1158, September.
    15. Masi, Christopher M. & Hawkley, Louise C. & Harry Piotrowski, Z. & Pickett, Kate E., 2007. "Neighborhood economic disadvantage, violent crime, group density, and pregnancy outcomes in a diverse, urban population," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(12), pages 2440-2457, December.
    16. Daniel Kim & Adrianna Saada, 2013. "The Social Determinants of Infant Mortality and Birth Outcomes in Western Developed Nations: A Cross-Country Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-40, June.
    17. Yu Hao & Yujia Li & Zhiyang Shen, 2023. "Does carbon emission trading contribute to reducing infectious diseases? Evidence from China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 74-100, March.
    18. Kane, Robert J., 2011. "The ecology of unhealthy places: Violence, birthweight, and the importance of territoriality in structurally disadvantaged communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(11), pages 1585-1592.
    19. repec:pri:cepsud:107kling is not listed on IDEAS
    20. van der Windt, Peter & Vandoros, Sotiris, 2017. "Democracy and health: Evidence from within-country heterogeneity in the Congo," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 10-16.
    21. B. d'Hombres & L. Rocco & M. Suhrcke & M. McKee, 2010. "Does social capital determine health? Evidence from eight transition countries," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(1), pages 56-74, January.
    22. Shortt, S. E. D., 2004. "Making sense of social capital, health and policy," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 11-22, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:10:p:2217-2228. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.