Prenatal Exposure to Favorable Social and Environmental Neighborhood Conditions Is Associated with Healthy Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes

Allison A. Appleton, Betty Lin, Elizabeth A. Holdsworth, Beth J. Feingold and Lawrence M. Schell
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Allison A. Appleton: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
Betty Lin: Department of Psychology, University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences, 1400 Washington Street, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Elizabeth A. Holdsworth: Department of Anthropology, University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences, 1400 Washington Street, Albany, NY 12222, USA
Beth J. Feingold: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
Lawrence M. Schell: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Neighborhood and individual level risks commonly co-occur for pregnant women and may cumulatively contribute to birth outcomes. Moreover, the relationship between favorable social and environmental neighborhood conditions and perinatal outcomes has been understudied. This study considered the accumulated impact of prenatal exposure to positive neighborhood social, environmental, and educational conditions in relation to maternal health during pregnancy and birth size outcomes. In a prospective study of a multi-ethnic and socioeconomically diverse cohort ( n = 239) of pregnant women and their infants, neighborhoods were characterized by the Child Opportunity Index (COI), a census-tract composite indicator representing favorable social, environmental, and educational community conditions. Adjusted generalized estimating equations showed that favorable neighborhood conditions promoted the growth of longer and heavier infant bodies, and reduced the risk of intrauterine growth restriction. The associations were stronger for female versus male infants, though not significantly different. Moreover, COI was associated with better maternal mental health and diet during pregnancy; diet significantly mediated the association between COI and birth size outcomes. This study underscores the importance of considering the accumulated benefit of neighborhood assets for maternal and infant health. Interventions that capitalizes on the full range of contextual assets in which mothers live may promote pregnancy health and fetal growth.

Keywords: developmental origins of health and disease; child opportunity index; pregnancy health; birth outcomes; social and environmental determinants of health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:6161-:d:570451

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