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Implications of Prenatal Exposure to the Spring 2011 Alabama and Missouri Tornadoes on Birth Outcomes

Part of: Tornadoes collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2018

Kenneth E. Christopher ,
Panagiota Kitsantas ,
Kiara K. Spooner ,
Joseph F. Robare  and
Dan Hanfling
Kenneth E. Christopher*
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Panagiota Kitsantas
Affiliation:
College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Kiara K. Spooner
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN
Joseph F. Robare
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN College of Health, Environment and Science, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA
Dan Hanfling
Affiliation:
Center for Health Security, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Kenneth E. Christopher, Department of Global and Community Health, MS 5B7, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030 (e-mail: kchristo@gmu.edu).
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Abstract

Objective

Despite emerging evidence of the detrimental effects of natural disasters on maternal and child health, little is known about exposure to tornadoes during the prenatal period and its impact on birth outcomes. We examined the relationship between prenatal exposure to the spring 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama and Joplin (Missouri) and adverse birth outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional cohort study using the 2010-2012 linked infant births and deaths data set from the National Center for Health Statistics for tornado-affected counties in Alabama (n=126,453) and Missouri (Joplin, n=6,897). Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate associations between prenatal exposure to tornadoes and birth outcomes.

Results

Prenatal exposure to the tornado incidents did not influence birth weight outcomes. Women exposed to Alabama tornadoes were less likely to have a preterm birth compared to unexposed mothers (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.96). Preterm births among Joplin-tornado exposed mothers were slightly higher (13%) compared with unexposed mothers (11.2%). Exposed mothers from Joplin were also more likely to have a cesarean section compared to their counterparts (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.26).

Conclusions

We found no association between tornado exposure and adverse birth weight and infant mortality rates. Our findings suggest that prenatal exposure can amplify the odds for a cesarean section. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:279–286)

Keywords

2011 Alabama and Joplin tornado outbreakbirth outcomesemergency preparednessnatural disastersprenatal exposure
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 2019 , pp. 279 - 286
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2018 

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