Early Childhood Adversity and Pregnancy Outcomes

Overview

Journal Matern Child Health J

Specialty Health Services

Date 2016 Jan 15

PMID 26762511

Citations 77

Authors

Megan V Smith

Nathan Gotman

Kimberly A Yonkers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pregnancy outcomes; to explore mediators of this association including psychiatric illness and health habits.

Methods: Exposure to ACEs was determined by the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report Short Form; psychiatric diagnoses were generated by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview administered in a cohort of 2303 pregnant women. Linear regression and structural equation modeling bootstrapping approaches tested for multiple mediators.

Results: Each additional ACE decreased birth weight by 16.33 g and decreased gestational age by 0.063. Smoking was the strongest mediator of the effect on gestational age.

Conclusions: ACEs have an enduring effect on maternal reproductive health, as manifested by mothers' delivery of offspring that were of reduced birth weight and shorter gestational age.

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