Date Approved

4-2019

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Public Health (M.P.H.)

Degree Program

Health Professions

First Advisor

Dr. Jeffrey Wing

Second Advisor

Dr. Katie Barnhart

Third Advisor

Dr. Kelly Strutz

Academic Year

2018/2019

Abstract

Strong Beginnings (SB) is a federal Healthy Start Program aiming to improve the health and well-being of black and Hispanic families by promoting racial equity and eliminating racial disparities in birth outcomes, including rapid repeat pregnancy (secondary pregnancy within 18 months of index birth). To better prevent the occurrence of rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP), this study explores individual, social, and environmental factors associated with RRP. De-identified data for this study included information from SB, the Maternal Infant Health Program, Medicaid claims, and birth certificates. The sample includes women enrolled in SB with an index birth between 2013 and 2015. Chi-square tests of independence and t-tests were used to assess the relationship between RRP and the predictor variables and logistic regressions were run to obtain adjusted odds ratios for factors associated with RRP, controlling for potential confounders. Results show that women aged 24 years or less are at increased odds of RRP compared to women aged 25 years or greater when individually controlling for individual, social, and environmental factors. Using these results, SB leadership and staff and other health care workers, can design and implement RRP preventions methods in their programs. Future research is needed to further assess the association between RRP and individual, social, and environmental risk factors.

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