Akansha Batra1, Deborah Karasek2, Rita Hamad3. 1. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Electronic address: akansha.batra@ucsf.edu. 2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; California Preterm Birth Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California. 3. Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the largest U.S. poverty alleviation program for families, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), has different associations with birthweight among women of different racial backgrounds. DESIGN: We analyzed data from the 1985-2015 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a longitudinal cohort study of U.S. families (N = 5,230 infants born to 3,672 women). The primary outcome was a continuous measure of birthweight, with secondary outcomes including low birthweight (LBW) and very LBW. Using rich sociodemographic data available in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we calculated the amount of EITC benefit for which women were eligible. We then examined the association of EITC benefit size with each outcome using multivariable regressions, examining the sample overall as well as racial subgroups (White, Black, or other). RESULTS: We found that larger EITC benefits were not associated with increased infant birthweight for the overall sample (18.37 g per $1,000 of EITC; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.62 to 33.36). There was an increase in birthweight for Black women (40.17 g; 95% CI: 7.32 to 73.02), but not for White women (-1.86 g; 95% CI, -33.33 to 29.60) or women of other races (-13.26 g; 95% CI, -75.90 to 49.38). There was no association between EITC benefit size and the probability of LBW or very LBW. Results were robust to alternative model specifications. CONCLUSIONS: Social policies to address poverty may be effective at decreasing racial disparities in birthweight. Future work should examine potential mechanisms and the benefits of improved health outcomes for children later in life.
OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the largest U.S. poverty alleviation program for families, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), has different associations with birthweight among women of different racial backgrounds. DESIGN: We analyzed data from the 1985-2015 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a longitudinal cohort study of U.S. families (N = 5,230 infants born to 3,672 women). The primary outcome was a continuous measure of birthweight, with secondary outcomes including low birthweight (LBW) and very LBW. Using rich sociodemographic data available in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we calculated the amount of EITC benefit for which women were eligible. We then examined the association of EITC benefit size with each outcome using multivariable regressions, examining the sample overall as well as racial subgroups (White, Black, or other). RESULTS: We found that larger EITC benefits were not associated with increased infant birthweight for the overall sample (18.37 g per $1,000 of EITC; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.62 to 33.36). There was an increase in birthweight for Black women (40.17 g; 95% CI: 7.32 to 73.02), but not for White women (-1.86 g; 95% CI, -33.33 to 29.60) or women of other races (-13.26 g; 95% CI, -75.90 to 49.38). There was no association between EITC benefit size and the probability of LBW or very LBW. Results were robust to alternative model specifications. CONCLUSIONS: Social policies to address poverty may be effective at decreasing racial disparities in birthweight. Future work should examine potential mechanisms and the benefits of improved health outcomes for children later in life.
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