Birth Outcomes and Early Health Trajectories

Brian K. Finch, San Diego State University

Health disparities are known to emerge as early as infancy. Infants born to socially disadvantaged parents are at increased risk for adverse birth outcomes that affect not only an infant’s chance of survival, but future health prospects. Thus, not only might early disparities contribute to adult health disparities, but, the double jeopardy of being born premature or small for gestational age and being born into adverse socio-economic conditions may lead to further health detriments. This study seeks to examine whether various dimensions of socio-economic status can alter the well-established trajectories linking adverse birth outcomes to adverse child health. Using two nationally representative, longitudinal data sets with rich survey data and birth certificate data, we propose to investigate the interactions between distinct birth outcomes and socio-economic conditions in childhood (ages 1-6) and how they produce disparities in child health.