Birth outcome, the social environment and child health.

OBJECTIVES This article examines the effects of birth outcome and selected social environmental factors on the health of young children. DATA SOURCE The data are from the 1994/95 National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. Information provided by the biological mothers of 5,888 children younger than age 3 is analyzed. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES The analysis focuses on two measures of child health: the mother's perception of the child's general health and a diagnosis of asthma. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of birth outcome and selected social environmental factors on these measures. Birth outcome refers to gestational age and birthweight. Social environmental factors include maternal education, maternal smoking, maternal age at birth of child, family status and household income. MAIN RESULTS Preterm low birthweight was associated with a higher risk of poor health and asthma among children when all the other selected risk factors were controlled. Poor maternal health and maternal smoking were important risk factors for poor child health. Maternal asthma and low maternal education were significantly associated with childhood asthma.