RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Severe sociopolitical stressors and preterm births in New York City: 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2017
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 1147
OP 1152
DO 10.1136/jech-2018-211077
VO 72
IS 12
A1 Nancy Krieger
A1 Mary Huynh
A1 Wenhui Li
A1 Pamela D Waterman
A1 Gretchen Van Wye
YR 2018
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/72/12/1147.abstract
AB Background Severe stressors can induce preterm birth (PTB; gestation <37 weeks), with such stressors including social and economic threats, interpersonal violence, hate crimes and severe sociopolitical stressors (ie, arising from political leaders’ threatening rhetoric or from political legislation). We analysed temporal changes in risk of PTB among immigrant, Hispanic and Muslim populations targeted in the US 2016 presidential election and its aftermath.Methods Trend analysis of all singleton births in New York City from 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2017 (n=230 105).Results Comparing the period before the US presidential nomination (1 September 2015 to 31 July 2016) to the post-inauguration period (1 January 2017 to 31 August 2017), the overall PTB rate increased from 7.0% to 7.3% (relative risk (RR): 1.04; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.07). Among Hispanic women, the highest post-inauguration versus pre-inauguration increase occurred among foreign-born Hispanic women with Mexican or Central American ancestry (RR: 1.15; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.31). The post-inauguration versus pre-inauguration PTB rate also was higher for women from the Middle East/North Africa and from the travel ban countries, although non-significant due to the small number of events.Conclusion Severe sociopolitical stressors may contribute to increases in the risk of PTB among targeted populations.