Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of mothers and their singleton infants in selected Massachusetts communities served by a single surface–supplied drinking water utility, 1999–2001.
| Characteristic | Study population [no. (%)] | Percent preterm (n = 2,813) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 37,498 (100) | 7.5 |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 19,219 (51.3) | 7.8 |
| Female | 18,279 (48.7) | 7.1 |
| Age (years) | ||
| < 20 | 2,136 (5.7) | 9.2 |
| 20 to 29 | 13,937 (37.2) | 7.7 |
| 30 to 34 | 12,671 (33.8) | 6.9 |
| 35 to 39 | 7,144 (19.1) | 7.5 |
| ≥ 40 | 1,610 (4.3) | 8.3 |
| Race | ||
| Caucasian | 21,945 (58.5) | 6.5 |
| African American | 5,846 (15.6) | 10.4 |
| Hispanic | 5,957 (15.9) | 9.1 |
| Asian | 3,716 (9.9) | 6.3 |
| Other | 34 (0.1) | 8.8 |
| Prenatal carea | ||
| Adequate | 27,941 (74.5) | 7.0 |
| Intermediate | 4,995 (13.3) | 9.9 |
| Inadequate | 992 (2.6) | 10.7 |
| No prenatal care | 48 (0.1) | 25.0 |
| Unknown | 3,522 (9.4) | 7.2 |
| Parity | ||
| 1 | 18,235 (48.6) | 7.9 |
| 2 to 3 | 16,883 (45.0) | 6.8 |
| 4 to 5 | 2,069 (5.5) | 9.5 |
| ≥ 6 | 311 (0.8) | 9.3 |
| Maternal disease factor present | ||
| None | 31,556 (84.2) | 6.5 |
| ≥ 1 | 5,942 (15.8) | 12.9 |
| Prenatal care payment source | ||
| Private or HMO | 25,708 (68.6) | 6.6 |
| Government or Healthy Start | 11,790 (31.4) | 9.6 |
a
Kessner Index (Kessner et al. 1973)