Prenatal Care Source in Medicaid Low Birthweight Births. Abstract, ExecutiveSummary, Final Report and Dissertation

摘要

Using the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey a nationallyrepresentative cross-sectional linked survey of vital records and maternal questionnaires, this research determined there is an association between low birthweight and source of prenatal care for Medicaid births. For all Medicaid births, mothers who attended hospital clinics for prenatal care were more likely to have a low birthweight infant than mothers attending other public or private providers. These infants were more likely to be black, have mothers who smoked, did not complete high school, and did not receive WIC benefits. In separate analyses, mothers of black infants who attended hospital clinics and, to slightly lesser extent, community health centers and public health clinics, were more likely to have a low birthweight birth compared to mothers who attended private providers. Mothers were more likely to be smokers, have prior abortions or did not receive WIC. For white births, women who attended hospital clinics for prenatal care were more likely to have a low birthweight infant compared to other providers. Mothers were more likely to be smokers and not high school graduates.