Review of research on residential mobility during pregnancy: consequences for assessment of prenatal environmental exposures.

ABSTRACT: Studies on environmental exposures during pregnancy often have limited residential history (e.g., at delivery), potentially introducing exposure misclassification. We reviewed studies reporting residential mobility during pregnancy to summarize current evidence and discuss research implications. A meaningful quantitative combination of results (e.g., meta-analysis), was infeasible owing to variation in study designs. Fourteen studies were identified, of which half were from the US. Most were case-control studies examining birth defects. Residential history was typically assessed after delivery. Overall mobility rates were 9-32% and highest in the second trimester. Mobility generally declined with age, parity, and socioeconomic status, although not consistently. Married mothers moved less f

SUBMITTER: Bell ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3543155 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature