Low birth weight and neighbourhood of residence: a multi-level analysis
Date
2003
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ORCID
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Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Low birth weight (LBW) is most often measured at an individual level.
However, increasingly, it has been shown that other factors, which are not
directly tied to the individual, can influence low birth weight. Specifically,
factors such as family income, education level, place of residence, and health
care benefits may influence a child's health. Through the database available, I
will test the hypothesis that low birth weight is an outcome that can be
influenced by the macro-level environment.
The objective of this study is to understand the relationship between
neighbourhood level factors and LBW in a population of children. It is well
known that individual level risk factors influence low birth weight. What is less
known is the extent to which a potential determinant of LBW - such as
neighbourhood of residence influences low birth weight in a birth cohort in a
small prairie city. The main study question is as follows; Do factors related to
neighbourhood of residence increase the risk of low birth weight children?
The study was comprised of a birth cohort of 5,643 children born in 1992-1994, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was found through logistic
regression models that the following variables contributed significantly to the
prediction of low birth weight; sex (OR=1.75, 95% CI=1.27-2.41), financial assistance (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.05-2.14), and gestational age (OR=85.8, 95%
CI=54.02-136.35). There were also significant interactions between gestational
age and parity and gestational age and stillborn births. Neighbourhood
characteristics that were related to LBW (unadjusted) were; proportions of
residents < grade 9 (p=0.056), dwellings owned (p=0.03), median income
(p=0.018), park space (p=0.015), total number of person < $10,000/year (p
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Community Health and Epidemiology
Program
Community Health and Epidemiology