An activity space approach to understanding how average distance traveled is associated with vaginal microbiome composition and preterm birth rates among pregnant African American women in Atlanta Open Access
McLean, Callie (Spring 2022)
Abstract
Background: Preterm births, defined as deliveries before 37 weeks of gestational age, account for 10% of births in the United States and increase risk of many adverse health outcomes for both the mother and child. Evidence suggests that stress impacts risk for preterm birth. The vaginal microbiome protects the vaginal and reproductive systems, but factors like stress can affect the composition and risk of preterm birth. This study tests the hypothesis that having to travel further to important locations contributes to changes in vaginal microbiome that contribute to increased risk of preterm birth. The locations are defined as work, school, and doctor’s offices.
Methods: A prospective investigation of the association between activity space travel to anchor locations and vaginal microbiome community state type, as well as preterm birth. Data are from the Emory University African American Microbiome in Pregnancy Cohort Study and the Sesame Street Study. Sociodemographic information, vaginal swabs, activity space data, and birth outcomes were collected from 71 pregnant African American women living in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Statistical analyses were run in R.
Results: Of 121 women sampled, 71 women (59%) had provided vaginal microbiome samples, activity space data, and had completed all questionnaires. During the study, 45 women (63.4%) carried their baby to full term and 15 women (21.1%) had non-iners Lactodominant vaginal microbiome composition. An odds ratio of 1.03 (0.558, 1.90) was calculated for average distance traveled outside the residence and gestational age at birth outcome and an odds ratio of 1.03 (0.809, 1.31) was calculated for average distance traveled outside the residence and vaginal microbiome composition.
Conclusions: This study is one of the first to use activity space data to investigate the effect of distance traveled on vaginal microbiome composition and preterm birth outcomes. The data suggest no statistically significant associations between average distance traveled outside the residence while pregnant and birth status outcome and vaginal microbiome composition.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents:
Introduction............................................................................... 1 Methods....................................................................................10 Results.....................................................................................16 Discussion.................................................................................21 References.................................................................................27 Tables......................................................................................29
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