New research of 380,000 births in the United States between 2012 and 2022 finds a clear link between family income and newborn health. Mothers with lower incomes experienced poorer outcomes across the measures studied: higher rates of preterm birth, shorter pregnancies, lower average birthweight and more cases of low birthweight. The overall income gap remained steady over the decade except that low birthweight rose more sharply among lower-income families.
The study gives exact changes in low birthweight: among lower-income families it rose from 7.2% in 2012 to 9.4% in 2022, while among higher-income mothers it rose from 5.7% to 6.3%. Emily Dore, the lead author and a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called the growing gap in low birthweight "surprising and especially concerning, particularly because it was largely driven by increasing rates among the lower-income families." The authors note that financial stress can affect health before a mother sees a doctor, and that housing and food insecurity play a role.
The team used the CDCs Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a national survey that collects maternal and infant data. In spring of 2025 the CDC PRAMS office was shuttered indefinitely and is at risk of disappearing; the researchers warned that losing this resource would harm the ability to track maternal and infant health trends. The authors hope the findings will guide policymakers to invest in income support and other social programs. The research appears in JAMA Pediatrics, was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, and lists contributors such as Daniel Collin and Rita Hamad. Source: University of Utah.
Difficult words
- preterm — born before full gestation or due date
- outcome — a result of a medical condition or treatmentoutcomes
- birthweight — weight of a baby measured at birth
- insecurity — lack of stable access to basic needs
- shutter — to close an office or business temporarily or permanentlyshuttered
- gap — difference or space between two groups or values
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What effects might losing the CDC PRAMS survey have on tracking maternal and infant health?
- Which social programs could help reduce the income gap in newborn health, and why?
- How can housing and food insecurity affect a pregnant person's health before they see a doctor?
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