Medical student University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Background: Among developed countries, the United States (US) has one of the highest infant mortality rates, with over 20,000 deaths under the age of one occurring annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preterm birth and low birth weight (BW) are leading causes of infant mortality. Food insecurity (FI) in the prenatal period may negatively impact maternal and child health. Especially amidst the COVID-pandemic, which has elevated rates of FI, it is necessary to understand FI as a unique stressor with a potential relationship to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objective: Using a novel cohort of pregnant people in South Dakota (SD), we investigated how gestational age (GA), BW, and the rate of being small for gestational age (SGA) differed among those who experienced FI compared to those who did not. Design/Methods: Data were obtained from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) study in SD from 2020-2023. 1,341 pregnant people were included. Self-reported FI was measured using a modified US Department of Agriculture food security questionnaire. Statistical analyses, specifically Chi square test, including Fisher’s exact test, and independent t-tests, were conducted using SAS software to identify significant relationships between FI and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Preliminary results of unadjusted data showed a significant relationship between infant GA and maternal FI. Specifically, infants born to FI people had an average GA before 38 weeks (mean GA=37.8) while those born to food secure (FS) people had an average GA after 38 weeks (mean GA = 38.2) (p=0.0009). There was also a significant relationship between infant BW and maternal FI, with FI infants weighing 3.3% less than their FS counterparts on average (p=0.0203). Preliminary analysis also identified significant health disparities along the lines of race, with pregnant people of color (POC) having a 3 times increased risk of experiencing FI. Within the next month, adjusted analyses will be conducted to see if maternal FI remains a unique contributor to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
