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ERIC Number: EJ1188435
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2155-5834
EISSN: N/A
Food Matters: Food Insecurity among Pregnant Adolescents and Infant Birth Outcomes
Grilo, Stephanie A.; Earnshaw, Valeria A.; Lewis, Jessica B.; Stasko, Emily C.; Magriples, Urania
Journal of Applied Research on Children, v6 n2 Article 4 2015
Objectives: The objectives of this study are to: (1) document prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant adolescents; (2) determine if food insecurity is associated with adverse birth outcomes (i.e., lower birth weight, earlier gestational age) among their newborns; and (3) examine whether depressive symptoms, anxiety, nutrition and/or weight gain mediate these associations. Methods: Pregnant adolescents (14-21 years old; N-881) in prenatal care at community hospitals and health centers in New York City completed a health and psychosocial survey during second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Birth weight and gestational age were recorded from medical records. Results: Over one-half of the adolescents reported food insecurity. Path analyses demonstrated that food insecurity was associated with lower birth weight and earlier gestational age. Depressive symptoms mediated these associations. Conclusions: Pregnant adolescents experience high rates of food insecurity. Those who were food insecure experienced more depressive symptoms, which in turn predicted adverse birth outcomes. Programs and policies should target these vulnerable children to stem the "multi-generational" effects of food insecurity.
Children At Risk. 2900 Weslayan Street Suite 400, Houston, TX 77027. Tel: 713-869-7740; Fax: 713-869-3409; e-mail: jarc@childrenatrisk.org; Web site: http://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/childrenatrisk/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York (New York)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01MH074399; R01MH07394; T32MH020031