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Flashcards in Maternal Deck (13)
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1
Q

Are births to teenage women in the US twice as high as that of any other industrial nations?

A

Yes

2
Q

why focus on child health?

A
  • health of nation can be judged on its youngest members
  • infancy: the first year of life
  • neonate: first month (28 days) of life
3
Q

Do male or females have a higher life expectancy?

A

females have a higher life expectancy than males in all countries

4
Q

what race has the higher death rates for infants?

A

blacks

5
Q

what is LBW?

A

LBW is low birth weight and it is defined as less than 2500 grams (or 5.5 lbs). The average is 3400 grams or about 7 lbs

6
Q

what is preterm birth?

A
  • born prior to 37 weeks gestation
  • normal pregnancy 40 weeks (38-42 weeks)
  • approximately 3 “3 month” trimesters
7
Q

Approx. how many infants are born premature?

A

2/3 LBW infants are born premature and 1/3 are “small”. This is known as intrauterine growth retardation which is not growing properly in the mother’s womb

8
Q

Are preterm births the leading cause of infant death - accounting for over 1/3 of these deaths?

A

yes

9
Q

Approx. how many infant deaths take place during the first month (neonatal period)?

A

2/3. these are most commonly due to preterm and lbw births

10
Q

what are some health problems associated with neonatal death, infant death and a host of child (and adult)?

A

ADHD, asthma, diabetes, etc.

11
Q

what race has the highest percentage of infants born at LBW?

A

blacks

12
Q

why the persistent black/white gap in infant birthweight?

A
maternal age
smoking
alcohol/drug use
maternal nutrition (WIC)
prenatal care
marital status
education
13
Q

describe the weathering hypothesis

A

the initiation of health deterioration in early adulthood as a physical result of cumulative social and economic disadvantage
in other words, black/white disparity may be explained by greater exposure to adverse life experiences with age (discrimination, poverty, stress, environmental hazards) by black women.