The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51744

Joy Phillips, Department of Health, State Center for Health Statistics Administration, 825 North Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-442-9033, JPhillips@dchealth.com

The birth weight of an infant is the single most important determinant of its chances of survival. Because birth weight is conditioned by the health and nutritional status of the mother, the proportion of infants born with low birth weights (LBW) closely reflects the health status of the communities into which they are born.

This paper applies Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools in the analysis of low birth weight births in the District of Columbia. The aim of this paper is to ascertain whether spatial modeling utilizing both community-level and individual-level factors can be used to determine areas of high-risk for low birth weight outcomes. The study examines birth records from 1995 through 1999 to characterize the profiles and geographic distribution of mothers and their birth outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify community-level and individual-level factors that may be related to low birth weight.
• Characterize the profiles and geographic distribution of mothers and their birth outcomes in the District of Columbia.
• Assess the use of GIS as a tool of analysis in determining areas of high-risk for low birth weight outcomes.

Keywords: Infant Health, Geographic Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.