Living in violence: Neighborhood domestic violence and small for gestational age births

Abstract

Objectives To determine the association between neighborhood domestic violence and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth and to examine if there is a differential impact of neighborhood domestic violence on SGA births by race in a high crime community. Methods This analysis includes all birth records issued in New Orleans, Louisiana from 2011–2012 geocoded by census tract (N=177 census tracts, N=8,322 women). Hierarchical modeling and ecologic spatial analysis were used to examine the area-effect of neighborhood domestic violence on SGA births, independent of individual-level predictors and accounting for the propensity to live in high domestic violence neighborhoods. Results Tests for spatial autocorrelation reveled area-level clustering and overlap of SGA and domestic violent rates. Pregnant women living in high domestic violence areas were more likely to give birth to an SGA infant compared to women in low-domestic violence areas (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.08), net of the effects of individual-level factors and propensity scores. Conclusion Neighborhood-level attributes including rates of domestic violence may increase women’s risk for SGA birth, highlighting a policy-relevant and potentially amenable exposure.

Spatial Distribution and Predictors of Domestic Violence Among Women Aged 15-49 in Ethiopia: Analysis of EDHS 2016 Dataset.

“…And this study also nds out that pregnant women living in this area were more likely to give birth to small gestational age infants as compared to women living in low prevalent areas (18). Another study in Canada identi es that clusters of gender-based violence were observed in the downtown and around entertainment areas (19).…”

FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) initiative on fetal growth: Best practice advice for screening, diagnosis, and management of fetal growth restriction

“…251,252 Maternal social issues, low income, and domestic violence during pregnancy have been shown to be associated with low birth weight. 253,254 Poor nutritional status due to conditions such as celiac disease 255 and eating disorders is a potentially treatable cause of FGR. 256,257 Maternal smoking is an important and potentially modifiable risk factor for FGR.…”

Associations between neighborhood violence during pregnancy and birth outcomes: Evidence from São Paulo’s Western Region Birth Cohort

“…The PCA's rst principal component was then divided into ve SES quintiles -low, medium-low, medium, medium-high, and high SES status. Maternal age was categorized into adolescence (<20), core reproductive age (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) and ages > 35.…”

“…A growing body of literature has tried to link external violence's to adverse birth outcomes at the area level [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. The large majority of studies are based on neighborhood comparisons in the United States and likely allow only limited insight into the impact of violence in low-income settings due to the large structural differences in neighborhoods and public support systems.…”