Project Number: R40 MC 08952-01 Project Date: 2/1/2008 Grantee: UNC Chapel Hill Department/Center: Biostatistics/School of Public Health
Final Report
Pending
Principal Investigator
Amy H. Herring Sc.D., Associate Professor, UNC Chapel Hill Biostatistics/School of Public Health, 3104D McGavran-Greenberg Hall CB# 7420 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7420 aherring@bios.unc.edu
Abstract
We propose to develop new statistical methods for better assessing the influence of pregnancy weight gain on maternal and child health. These new statistical methods may help refine recommendations about appropriate weight gain during pregnancy. Weight gain in pregnancy has been associated with both maternal and child health outcomes (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2007), and as a modifiable risk factor is an important focus of research. Recommendations for pregnancy weight gain should attempt to ensure adequate weight gain for proper infant growth and development, while minimizing other health risks, such as that of postpartum weight retention and subsequent maternal obesity.
Our goals include the following.
1) Develop flexible statistical methods to characterize women's trajectories of weight gain during pregnancy using growth mixture and latent class trajectory models, classifying women according to pattern and amount of weight gain.
2) Extend methods to incorporate predictors of trajectory classifications, in order to determine whether trajectories of weight gain vary occurring to potential predictors of weight gain during pregnancy.
3) Develop flexible semiparametric Bayesian joint model to determine whether trajectories of weight gain are associated with the following maternal and child health outcomes.
a.Child: birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, weight at one year, and at-risk-for-overweight status at one year.
b.Maternal: postpartum weight retention at three months and one year, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and duration of breastfeeding.
These goals apply directly to the MCHB strategic issues IV (promoting the health and development of MCH populations) and II (elimination of health disparities).
Publications
Pending
Keywords
Data analysis; Gestational weight gain; Low birthweight; Maternal nutrition;
