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A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
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

Comment on "Compromised birth outcomes and infant mortality among racial and ethnic groups"

W J van der Veen1

  • 1Population Research Centre, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. w.j.van.der.veen@frw.rug.nl

Demography
|December 16, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Analyzing racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality requires accounting for low birth weight and preterm delivery. Frisbie et al.’s method for intrauterine growth-retardation is flawed for population-level studies.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal epidemiology
  • Public health research
  • Biostatistics

Background:

  • Previous research highlighted the importance of considering low birth weight, preterm delivery, and intrauterine growth-retardation (IUGR) in analyzing birth outcomes and infant mortality across racial and ethnic groups.
  • Discrepancies exist between fetal growth curves used by Frisbie et al. (1996) and those commonly applied in obstetric and pediatric fields.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare findings on birth outcomes and infant mortality between the 1987 and 1988 U.S. birth cohorts.
  • To critically evaluate the fetal growth curve calculations by Frisbie et al. and their suitability for population-level IUGR studies.
  • To propose an alternative method for assessing normal intrauterine growth using vital statistics data.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized linked birth and infant death vital statistics data from the National Center for Health Statistics for the 1987 and 1988 U.S. birth cohorts.
  • Compared birth outcome distributions and infant death probabilities using Frisbie et al.'s methodology against other established standards.
  • Examined the accuracy of gestational age measurement in the utilized vital statistics data.

Main Results:

  • Frisbie et al.'s method for assessing intrauterine growth-retardation demonstrated significant limitations when applied at the population level.
  • Major flaws were identified in the measurement of gestational age within the vital statistics data used by Frisbie et al.
  • The study found that Frisbie et al.'s fetal growth curves were inconsistent with commonly accepted obstetric and pediatric standards.

Conclusions:

  • The methodology proposed by Frisbie et al. is not appropriate for population-level studies of intrauterine growth-retardation due to data limitations, particularly in gestational age measurement.
  • An alternative approach involving the application of a standard for normal intrauterine growth, derived from antenatal estimation of fetal weight-for-gestational-age, is recommended for vital statistics data.
  • Accurate assessment of intrauterine growth-retardation requires robust gestational age estimation and appropriate growth curve standards for reliable public health research.

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