Assessing the impact of the local environment on birth outcomes: A case for HLM

Bryan L. Williams, María Pennock-Román, Hoi K. Suen, Melina S. Magsumbol, Esra Ozdenerol

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hierarchical linear Models (HLM) is a useful way to analyze the relationships between community level environmental data, individual risk factors, and birth outcomes. With HLM we can determine the effects of potentially remediable environmental conditions (e.g., air pollution) after controlling for individual characteristics such as health factors and socioeconomic factors. Methodological limitations of ecological studies of birth outcomes and a detailed analysis of the varying models that predict birth weight will be discussed. Ambient concentrations of criterion air pollutants (e.g., lead and sulfur dioxide) demonstrated a sizeable negative effect on birth weight; while the economic characteristics of the mother's residential census tract (ex. poverty level) also negatively influenced birth weight.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)445-457
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
Volume17
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Epidemiology
  • Toxicology
  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessing the impact of the local environment on birth outcomes: A case for HLM'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this