Maternal Characteristics and Infant Outcomes in Appalachia and the Delta

Objectives-This report compares maternal characteristics and outcomes for infants born to mothers in Appalachia, the Delta, and the rest of the United States. Methods-The 2017 vital statistics natality file and the 2016-2017 linked birth/infant death data files were used to compare maternal characteristics (e.g., race and Hispanic origin, age, and marital status) of women who gave birth in Appalachia, the Delta, and the rest of the United States. Comparisons of infant outcomes (preterm, low birthweight, and infant mortality) across the three regions were made overall and within categories of these maternal characteristics. Results-Characteristics of women who gave birth differed across the three regions. Women in the Delta were most likely to be teenagers, unmarried, and not have a college degree, followed by women in Appalachia, and then by women in the rest of the United States. Overall and within most categories of maternal characteristics, infants born in the Delta were more likely to be preterm (12.37%) or low birthweight (10.75%) and were more likely to die in their first year of life (8.17 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) than those born in Appalachia (10.75%, 8.87%, and 6.82, respectively), while those born in the rest of the United States were the least likely (9.78%, 8.14%, and 5.67, respectively). Conclusions-Maternal characteristics associated with poor infant outcomes are most common among women who give birth in the Delta, followed by women in Appalachia, and then the rest of the United States. Within most categories of these maternal characteristics, infants born in the Delta have the worst outcomes, followed by those born in Appalachia, and then those born in the rest of the United States.