Exploring Preconception Care: Insurance Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Health in the Pre-pregnancy Period

Rebecca Mahn Hawks, Aileen P. McGinn, Peter S. Bernstein, Jonathan N. Tobin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To measure the association of preconception health insurance status with preconception health among women in New York City, and examine whether this association is modified by race/ethnicity. Methods Using data from the New York City Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2009–2011 (n = 3929), we created a “Preconception Health Score” (PHS) capturing modifiable behaviors, healthcare services utilization, pregnancy intention, and timely entry into prenatal care. We then built multivariable logistic regression models to measure the association of PHS with health insurance status and race/ethnicity. Results We found PHS to be higher among women with private insurance (7.3 ± 0.07) or public insurance (6.3 ± 0.08) before pregnancy than no insurance (5.9 ± 0.09) (p <.001). However, when stratified by race/ethnicity, the positive association of PHS with insurance was absent in the non-white population. Conclusions for Practice Having health insurance during the pre-pregnancy period is associated with greater health among white women, but not among black or Hispanic women in NYC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1103-1110
Number of pages8
JournalMaternal and child health journal
Volume22
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2018

Keywords

  • Health disparities
  • Health insurance
  • Preconception care
  • Race

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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