Social and cultural factors in pregnancy complications among Navajo women.

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read More Add to Saved list
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7910653 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0002-9262 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00029262 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Epidemiol Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Cary, NC : Oxford University Press
      Original Publication: Baltimore, School of Hygiene and Public Health of Johns Hopkins Univ.
    • Subject Terms:
      Culture* ; Indians, North American* ; Stress, Psychological*; Pregnancy Complications/*epidemiology; Adolescent ; Adult ; Educational Status ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Age ; Middle Aged ; New Mexico ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/etiology ; Regression Analysis ; Risk ; Social Support
    • Abstract:
      A population of 968 pregnant Navajo women was followed in a prospective study conducted from 1980 to 1983 at the Indian Health Service Hospitals in Gallup and Crownpoint, New Mexico. The purpose of the study was to examine social and cultural influences on obstetric and neonatal complications. The extent of traditional cultural practices and the availability of social support were ascertained in structured interviews completed during each woman's first prenatal visit. In a subsample of women, the occurrence of stressful life events was also measured during a final prenatal visit in the third trimester of pregnancy. Controlling for a variety of conventional risk factors and other potential confounders, traditional women sustained complications at a rate greater than twice that of the least traditional, most acculturated women (approximate relative risk = 2.1; p = 0.001). Social support and life events were modestly associated with maternal complications (approximate relative risk = 0.7, 0.8, respectively; p = 0.07), with poorer outcomes found among those with low social support and low numbers of life events. It is proposed that the relationship of maternal complications to all three sociocultural variables--traditionality, social support, and life events--may reflect the influences of social isolation on the course and outcomes of pregnancy.
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 19860801 Date Completed: 19860804 Latest Revision: 20190510
    • Publication Date:
      20221208
    • Accession Number:
      10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114382
    • Accession Number:
      3728440