Sociodemographic Characteristics of Women with Normal and Low–Birth-Weight Infants, and Relative Risks for Low Birth Weight
| Characteristic | % Normal Birth Weight (≥2,500 g) (n = 153) | % Low Birth Weight (<2,500 g) (n = 9) | Relative Risk for Low Birth Weight (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CI = confidence interval. | |||
| * P <.05. | |||
| Note: Categories for variables follow—ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic white + 3 other); dominant language (Spanish, English); maternal age (mean ± SD and18–24 y vs 25+ y); marital status (married/cohabiting vs single/dating); education (<12 y, ≥12 y); smoking (yes, no); history of fetal loss (spontaneous abortion or fetal demise); maternal enrollment weight (<132 lb vs ≥132 lb); gestational age at enrollment (≥14 wk vs <14 wk); parity (number of live births); maternal unwanted pregnancy (unwanted, mistimed + intended); maternal happiness status (unhappy + ambivalent, happy); mother reports partner happier (mother reports father happiness 5+ points higher than her own happiness); risk ratios for maternal planning; previous low–birth-weight infant; maternal medical problems (gestational diabetes, preexisting hypertension or preeclampsia, renal problems, and anemia); and psychosocial variables omitted because of cells with 0 or 1. | |||
| Hispanic | 74.5 | 66.7 | 0.70 (0.16–2.86) |
| English dominant | 43.8 | 88.9 | 10.27 (1.25–84.1)* |
| Age, mean y (± SD) | 23.9 (± 4.8) | 24.6 (± 6.7) | P = .72 |
| Young maternal age | 63.4 | 77.7 | 2.02 (0.41–10.1) |
| Parents married or live together | 89.9 | 44.4 | 0.21 (.054–0.83)* |
| Education <12 y | 54.9 | 55.6 | 1.03 (0.3–4.0) |
| Smoking | 21.6 | 55.6 | 4.54 (1.16–17.89)* |
| History of fetal loss | 16.3 | 22.2 | 1.46 (0.3–7.5) |
| Low maternal enrollment weight | 35.9 | 66.7 | 3.6 (0.9–14.8) |
| Late gestational age at enrollment | 37.3 | 44.4 | 1.34 (0.3–5.2) |
| Parity, mean No. (± SD) | 3.1 (± 0 .9) | 3.1 (± 1.1) | P = .72 |
| Maternal unwanted pregnancy | 13.1 | 22.2 | 1.9 (0.4–9.8) |
| Unhappy or ambivalent mother | 25.5 | 88.9 | 23.4 (2.83–193.0)* |
| Maternal report of greater partner happiness | 5.9 | 44.4 | 12.8 (2.92–56.0)* |