Search Results

Title: Disparities in Birth Weight between Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic Whites: The Effect of Rural Residency
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. Fedor, Theresa M.
Berry, Eddy Helen
Reither, Eric N.
Disparities in Birth Weight between Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic Whites: The Effect of Rural Residency
Presented: Dallas, TX, Population Association of America Meetings, April 2010
Cohort(s): Children of the NLSY79, NLSY79
Publisher: Population Association of America
Keyword(s): Birthweight; Family Structure; Fathers, Absence; Fathers, Presence; Racial Differences; Rural/Urban Differences; Support Networks

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

This research assesses the prevalence of low birth weight among non-Hispanic Blacks and non-Hispanic Whites along the rural/urban continuum. Degree of social isolation and lack of social support are proposed mechanisms for explaining the high prevalence of low birth weight observed among Blacks in rural counties. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Child data, the relative odds of low birth weight were estimated for Black and White women via logistic regression. Living in a predominately rural county exacerbates disparities in birth weight outcomes between Blacks and Whites. Logistic regression models also revealed that racial disparities in low birth weight were almost completely accounted for by the presence of the father in the household. Our results highlight the importance of place of residence and family structures for health outcomes among racial minorities.
Bibliography Citation
Fedor, Theresa M., Eddy Helen Berry and Eric N. Reither. "Disparities in Birth Weight between Non-Hispanic Blacks and Non-Hispanic Whites: The Effect of Rural Residency." Presented: Dallas, TX, Population Association of America Meetings, April 2010.