 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Carol-Ann Watson, MS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University at Albany, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, 518-402-0353, cwatson@albany.edu and Edward Waltz, PhD, The Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, University at Albany, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the contribution of multiple births to the rise in early gestational age (EGA) births.
METHODS: New York State (NYS) birth files for 1988 through 2000 were analyzed for trends in EGA births (births occurring at <37 weeks gestation). Stratified analyses of multiple (2 or more infants) vs. singleton births were limited to births occurring between 10 and 37 weeks gestation for seven counties in the Lower Hudson Valley region of NYS.
RESULTS: The data showed that EGA births increased by 21% during the 12-year period (from 9.5% to 11.44%). During this period, the risk of EGA among multiple births increased by 27% to approximately one in two multiple births resulting in EGA infants. In contrast, the risk of EGA among singleton births increased by 9% or one third the rate of increase for multiple births. Much of the increase in the rate of EGA births can be attributed to a 77% increased in the rate of multiple births during this period.
CONCLUSION: Unlike other reports this study found no substantial increased risk of EGA births once plurality was controlled for. This study provides evidence that initiatives targeted at reducing the rate of EGA among multiple births are needed. Implications of study findings, including mechanisms that may underlie the increase in EGA rates such as the contribution of race/ethnicity and strides made in reducing infant mortality, will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Quality Assurance,
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.