Racial Differences in the Association between the U.S. Earned Income Tax Credit and Birthweight.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We examined whether the largest U.S. poverty alleviation program for families, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), has different associations with birthweight among women of different racial backgrounds.

Design

We analyzed data from the 1985-2015 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a longitudinal cohort study of U.S. families (N = 5,230 infants born to 3,672 women). The primary outcome was a continuous measure of birthweight, with secondary outcomes including low birthweight (LBW) and very LBW. Using rich sociodemographic data available in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we calculated the amount of EITC benefit for which women were eligible. We then examined the association of EITC benefit size with each outcome using multivariable regressions, examin

SUBMITTER: Batra A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9037785 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature