Poverty Programs, Initiation of Prenatal Care and the Rate of Low Birthweight Births

42 Pages Posted: 18 Apr 2011 Last revised: 16 Oct 2022

See all articles by Richard G. Frank

Richard G. Frank

Harvard Medical School; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Donna M. Strobino

Johns Hopkins University - School of Hygiene and Public Health

David S. Salkever

UMBC, Department of Public Policy

Catherine A. Jackson

University of Maryland

Date Written: December 1989

Abstract

This paper specifies and estimates an econometric model of low and very low birthweight rates for counties in the U.S. for the years 1975-1984. We focus on the impact of several specific public policy actions on use of prenatal care and the subsequent effect on birthweight outcomes. Our results point to strong racial differences in the impact of prenatal care on low birthweight rates. We also find that for the white population changes in income eligibility standards and expanded availability of publicly financed maternal and infant clinics have the strongest impacts on low birthweight rates.

Suggested Citation

Frank, Richard G. and Strobino, Donna M. and Salkever, David S. and Jackson, Catherine A., Poverty Programs, Initiation of Prenatal Care and the Rate of Low Birthweight Births (December 1989). NBER Working Paper No. w3215, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1811475

Richard G. Frank (Contact Author)

Harvard Medical School ( email )

Department of Health Care Policy
Boston, MA 02115
United States
617-432-0178 (Phone)
617-432-1219 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Donna M. Strobino

Johns Hopkins University - School of Hygiene and Public Health

Baltimore, MD 21205
United States

David S. Salkever

UMBC, Department of Public Policy ( email )

1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250

Catherine A. Jackson

University of Maryland

College Park
College Park, MD 20742
United States

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