Preterm low birth weight is the major determinant of infant morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies have linked bacterial vaginosis (BV) with preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW), especially among black women. This article reviews the published literature to provide clear evidence that BV is an independent risk factor for preterm birth and LBW. Pregnant black women are especially at risk, having nearly three times the level of BV as pregnant white women. Compounding the problem is the fact that half the population of women with BV are asymptomatic, and current standard antenatal procedures do not provide for screening for BV. By reviewing BV treatment literature, this article also provides evidence that treatment for BV is effective and that the identification and treatment of BV in pregnant women can lead to substantial reduction in the high rates of preterm birth and LBW.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A mediational model for the impact of exposure to community violence on early child behavior problems.

This study examined how maternal distress mediates the link between exposure to community violence (CV) and the development of early child behavior problems. Research was conducted among 160 children, 3,0 to 5,11 in age, who resided in high-crime neighborhoods. Using structural equation modeling, latent variables were constructed to identify model components: maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and public assistance status, exposure to CV (maternal perceptions of local violence, social disorder, and fear of crime; and frequency of child cowitnessing violent events), family aggression (partner aggression toward mother and partner aggression toward child), maternal distress (global distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms), and early child behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing). Bivariate correlations indicated that CV, maternal distress, and early child behavior problems were significantly intercorrelated. A series of structural equation models was specified to estimate the direct and indirect effect of CV on early child behavior problems. A direct model indicated a significant path from CV to early child behavior problems, after controlling for maternal SES and family aggression. The direct CV-early child behavior problems path diminished, however, when maternal distress was included in the model, after controlling for maternal SES and family aggression. Results are consistent with a mediation model of the impact of maternal distress symptoms on the link between CV and early child behavior problems.

Black or African American↗