%0 Journal Article
%T 11-Year Trends in Pregnancy-Related Health Indicators in Maine, 2000¨C2010
%A David E. Harris
%A AbouEl-Makarim Aboueissa
%A Nancy Baugh
%A Cheryl Sarton
%A Erika Lichter
%J Journal of Pregnancy
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/780626
%X The objective of this study is to understand health and demographic trends among mothers and infants in Maine relative to the goals of Healthy People 2020. Pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system (PRAMS) data from Maine for 2000¨C2010 were used to determine yearly values of pregnancy-related variables. Means (for continuous variables) and percentages (for categorical variables) were calculated using the survey procedures in SAS. Linear trend analysis was applied with study year as the independent variable. The slope and significance of the trend were then calculated. Over the study period, new mothers in Maine became better educated but the fraction of households with incomes <$20,000/year remained stagnant. Maternal prepregnancy BMI increased. Average pregnancy weight gain decreased but the number of women whose pregnancy weight gain was within the recommended range was unchanged. The rates of smoking and alcohol consumption (before and during pregnancy) increased. The Caesarean section rate rose and the fraction of infants born premature (<37£¿wks gestation) or underweight (<2500£¿gms) remained unchanged. The fraction of infants who were breast-fed increased. These results suggest that, despite some positive trends, Maine faces significant challenges in meeting Healthy People 2020 goals. 1. Introduction Women¡¯s health and health behaviors before, during, and after pregnancy can impact the course and outcome of their pregnancy as well as the health of the children born from those pregnancies. Maternal smoking before [1], during [2, 3], and after [4] pregnancy is a risk to children¡¯s health and development. Maternal smoking [5] and even moderate drinking [6] during pregnancy increase the risk of having a small for gestational age infant which could prolong hospital stays, require admission to a neonatal intensive care unit, increase mortality during infancy [7], and produce developmental problems as the child grows [8]. Maternal prepregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications and childhood health challenges [9¨C11] while inadequate gestational weight gain is associated with low birth weight [10]. The presence of two parents in a family unit and adequate family income can also impact child health. Poverty is associated with health challenges while families with incomes near or below the federal poverty level and single-parent households are at risk for food insecurity [12] which is, in turn, a health risk for children [13, 14]. There are also maternal behaviors that can improve
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jp/2014/780626/