R Jeanne Ruiz1, Christyn L Dolbier, Robin Fleschler. 1. University of Texas Medical Branch, School of Nursing, 3.310 Allied Health Sciences/Nursing Building, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1029, USA. rojruiz@utmb.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive ability of acculturation as an antecedent of stress, biobehavioral risk, corticotropin-releasing hormone levels, and poor birth outcomes in pregnant Hispanic women. DESIGN: A prospective, observational design with data collected at 22-25 weeks of gestation and at birth through medical record review. SETTING: Public prenatal health clinics in south Texas serving low-income women. PARTICIPANTS: Self-identified Hispanic women who had singleton pregnancies, no major medical risk complications, and consented to answer questionnaires as well as a venipuncture and review of their prenatal and birth medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gestational age, Apgar scores, length, weight, percentile size, and head circumference of the infant at birth. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in infant birth weight, head circumference, and percentile size by acculturation. English acculturation predicted stress, corticotropin-releasing hormone, biobehavioral risk, and decreased gestational age at birth. CONCLUSIONS: Investigation must continue to understand the circumstances that give rise to the decline in birth outcomes observed in Hispanics with acculturation to the dominant English culture in the United States.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive ability of acculturation as an antecedent of stress, biobehavioral risk, corticotropin-releasing hormone levels, and poor birth outcomes in pregnant Hispanic women. DESIGN: A prospective, observational design with data collected at 22-25 weeks of gestation and at birth through medical record review. SETTING: Public prenatal health clinics in south Texas serving low-income women. PARTICIPANTS: Self-identified Hispanic women who had singleton pregnancies, no major medical risk complications, and consented to answer questionnaires as well as a venipuncture and review of their prenatal and birth medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gestational age, Apgar scores, length, weight, percentile size, and head circumference of the infant at birth. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in infant birth weight, head circumference, and percentile size by acculturation. English acculturation predicted stress, corticotropin-releasing hormone, biobehavioral risk, and decreased gestational age at birth. CONCLUSIONS: Investigation must continue to understand the circumstances that give rise to the decline in birth outcomes observed in Hispanics with acculturation to the dominant English culture in the United States.
Authors: Angela Bermúdez-Millán; Grace Damio; Joan Cruz; Karen D'Angelo; Sofia Segura-Pérez; Amber Hromi-Fiedler; Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Journal: J Health Care Poor Underserved Date: 2011-11