Download

Download Full Text (925 KB)

Date of Presentation

5-8-2025

Document Type

Article

Department

Medicine

Faculty Mentor

Amy Elliott, PhD

Keywords

food insecurity, pregnancy, birth outcomes, social determinants of health, American Indian, Alaska Native

Subject Categories

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: Despite being a high-income country, the United States faces persistent food insecurity (FI), disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age. This study investigates the association between prenatal FI and adverse birth outcomes, specifically birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA), among a diverse cohort of pregnant individuals in South Dakota.

Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted using data from 1,478 mother-infant pairs enrolled in the Safe Passage Cohort of the ECHO study. Prenatal FI was assessed using a modified USDA Household Food Security Questionnaire. Birth outcomes were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate regression models, adjusting for maternal sociodemographic and health variables.

Results: Unadjusted analyses revealed statistically significant associations between FI and lower BW and earlier GA. Infants born to food-insecure mothers weighed on average 85 grams less and were more likely to be born preterm. However, after adjusting for covariates, these associations were no longer statistically significant. Higher pre-pregnancy BMI, gravidity, and parity remained significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes.

Conclusion: While prenatal FI showed marginal associations with adverse birth outcomes after adjustment, the findings underscore the importance of addressing FI as a social determinant of health. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions, particularly among American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and calls for further research into the complex interplay between FI, maternal health, and infant outcomes.

Maternal Food Insecurity and Adverse Birth Outcomes

Share

COinS