Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Association between census-tract Social Vulnerability Index and preterm birth rates
Jocelyn V Burridge1, Rebecca J Baer1, Christina D Chambers1
1Department of Pediatrics, San Diego School of Medicine University of California La Jolla California USA.
Pregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.)
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Higher Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) scores are linked to increased preterm birth (PTB) risk. This highlights SVI
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociomedical Sciences
Background:
- Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity.
- Sociodemographic factors significantly influence PTB risk, particularly in marginalized populations.
- The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) quantifies these factors, offering a tool for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between census-tract level SVI and PTB risk.
- To examine the relationship between individual SVI themes and PTB and very PTB.
- To inform the development of interventions for high-risk populations.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study using California birth data (2018-2021).
- Linked hospital and birth certificate records with 2020 census tract data and CDC SVI.
- Used mixed-effect logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and spatial dependencies.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between higher SVI quintiles and increased PTB risk.
- The highest PTB risk was observed in the Very High SVI quintile (aOR 1.34).
- Increased risks for very PTB and individual SVI themes were also identified.
Conclusions:
- Higher SVI at the census-tract level is significantly associated with increased PTB.
- SVI and its themes can serve as valuable tools for PTB risk assessment.
- Findings support targeted interventions in high-SVI areas to reduce PTB disparities.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:12Relative Risk
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
01:17z Scores and Area Under the Curve
z scores are the standardized values obtained after converting a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution. A z score is measured in units of the standard deviation. The z score tells you how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a z score of zero.