Abstract
Objective
To examine the relationship of individual and composite number of unmet basic needs (housing, energy, food, and healthcare hardships) in the past year with preterm birth status among children aged 0–24 months.
Study design
We examined cross-sectional 2011–18 data of 17,926 families with children aged 0–24 months. We examined children born <31 weeks’, 31–33 weeks’, and 34–36 weeks’ gestation versus term (≥37 weeks) using multivariable multinomial logistic regression.
Results
At least 1 unmet basic need occurred among ≥60% of families with preterm children, compared to 56% of families with term children (p = 0.007). Compared to term, children born ≤30 weeks’ had increased odds of healthcare hardships (aOR 1.28 [1.04, 1.56]) and children born 34–36 weeks’ had increased odds of 1 (aOR 1.19 [1.05, 1.35]) and ≥2 unmet needs (aOR 1.15 [1.01, 1.31]).
Conclusion
Unmet basic needs were more common among families with preterm, compared to term children.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the families who participated in the Children’s HealthWatch survey and shared their experiences with us. This study was funded in part by the grant R01MD007793 from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMMD) and supporters of the Children’s HealthWatch https://childrenshealthwatch.org/giving/supporters/
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Parker conceptualized and designed the study, interpreted the data, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Ms. Rateau conducted the analysis, interpreted the data, and critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. Garg, Sandel, Cutts, Frank, Lê-Scherban, Ochoa, and Black interpreted the data and critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. Ettinger de Cuba and Heeren conceptualized and designed the study, interpreted the data, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
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Parker, M.G., de Cuba, S.E., Rateau, L.J. et al. Household unmet basic needs in the first 1000 days and preterm birth status. J Perinatol 42, 389–396 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01325-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01325-5
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