Transcript Document

Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study (CePAWHS): Findings of a
Health Status and Health Risk Factors Survey of Reproductive-age Women
Baker, S. A.; Weisman, C. S.; Hillemeier, M. M.; Botti, J. J.; Velott, D. L.; Chase, G. A.; Dyer, A-M.
The Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health
Study (CePAWHS) is a two-phase research project to
reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes by improving
women’s health before conception (pre-conceptionally)
and in between pregnancies (inter-conceptionally). It
is a project of the Central Pennsylvania Center of
Excellence for Research on Pregnancy Outcomes
(COE) and is funded by a four-year Pennsylvania
Department of Health non-formula tobacco settlement
grant awarded in June 2004. The CePAWHS research
specifically aims to reduce the adverse pregnancy
outcomes of preterm birth and low birthweight in
Central Pennsylvania (see chart, Fig. 1).
The first phase of the CePAWHS project
consisted of a population-based survey of health status
and risks among women ages 18-45 residing in a 28county region in Central Pennsylvania (see map, Fig.
2). This included a random digit dial (RDD) telephone
survey of 2,002 women and a household survey of 288
Amish women. Data from Phase I were used to design
a multidimensional preventive intervention to address
prevalent health risks in women in low-income rural
communities.
In the RDD telephone survey, some of the most
significant findings of CePAWHS-I concerned the
prevalent health risk factors. Reported risk factors
included: 23% of respondents were obese by BMI
(Body Mass Index); 29% had been diagnosed with
depression or anxiety; 68% consumed fruits less than
Preterm Birth and Low Birthweight
Definition US
2004
PA
2004
U.S.Goal
Preterm < 37 weeks
gestation
Birth
LBW
< 2,500
grams
(5 lb, 8 oz)
12.5%
11.8%
7.6%
8.1%
8.2%
5.0%
Percentages are based on live births
daily; 56% consumed vegetables less than daily;
48% drank alcohol ever; 34% binge drank (among
those who drank ever); 28% smoked cigarettes; and
just 38% took a multi-vitamin with folic acid (see
chart, Fig. 3). Additional CePAWHS Phase I
findings were that 11% of RDD telephone survey
respondents had been diagnosed with hypertension;
10% had been diagnosed with high cholesterol;
38% had been diagnosed with one or more
gynecologic infections; and 75% reported not
getting 30+ minutes of moderate or strenuous
physical activity on most days of the week.
Fig. 1. Preterm Birth and Low Birthweight Rates in Pennsylvania and
Nationwide Compared to the Healthy People 2010 Goal Rates
Prevalent Risk Factors in RDD Sample,
Compared with PA and U.S.*
(Women ages 18-45, weighted data)
RDD Sample
Obesity (BMI = 30+)
Depression/anxiety dx
Nutritional deficits:
fruit < daily
vegetables < daily
Alcohol use (ever)
Binge drinking (among drinkers)
Smoking
Folic acid supplementation
*
PA
U.S.
23%
29%
18%
--
19%
16%
68%
56%
48%
34%
28%
38%
57%
31%
-29%
32%
53%
60%
34%
32%
23%
23%
50%
The CePAWHS-I findings show that reproductive-age
women in Central Pennsylvania are at high risk for
adverse pregnancy outcomes, including those of preterm
birth and low birthweight.
The second phase of CePAWHS is the randomized
trial of a community-based multi-session group behavioral
intervention designed for reproductive-age women ages 1835. The group intervention being tested focuses on health
education and behavior change skills related to key risk
factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. These include:
nutrition, physical activity, psychosocial stress, smoking,
alcohol consumption, and pregnancy planning. Field
research for CePAWHS-II was completed in March 2007.
Study participants from the second phase of CePAWHS will
continue to be followed through 2 phone interviews
occurring at 6 and 12 months from participant baseline risk
assessment (initial study health screening). Findings from
the randomized trial of this intervention will be available in
June 2007.
Comparison data sets include BRFSS 2003, Commonwealth Fund Survey
of Women’s Health 1998, National Health Interview Survey 2003
CePAWHS (Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study)
Fig. 3. CePAWHS Phase I Prevalent Health Risk Factors
Fig. 2. Central Pennsylvania Project Region for CePAWHS
www.womenshealthcoe.psu.edu
Penn State College of Medicine
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