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Neighborhood Threat of Eviction over Time and Risk of Preterm Birth in Black American Women

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Overview

Paper Summary › Explain Like I'm Five › Conflicts of Interest › Identified Limitations › Rating Explanation › Good to know › Topic Hierarchy › File Information ›

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
Moving Stress and Premature Births: Neighborhood Eviction Rates Linked to Pregnancy Risk in Black Women

In a study of Black women, living in a neighborhood with an increasing threat of eviction during pregnancy (compared to before pregnancy) was associated with a 68% increased risk of having a preterm birth. The study controlled for individual and neighborhood socioeconomic factors but relied on participant-reported addresses and lacked data on individual experiences with eviction or other relevant social factors, which could confound the relationship.

Explain Like I'm Five

Black women living in neighborhoods with increasing eviction rates during pregnancy had a higher risk of preterm birth. This suggests that unstable housing can negatively impact pregnancy health.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified.

Identified Limitations

Reliance on participant-reported addresses and potential residual confounding
The study relied on participant-reported addresses and did not account for individual-level eviction experiences or housing instability beyond reported address changes. It's possible there could be residual confounding even with statistical controls.
Lack of individual-level eviction data and other social factors
The study lacked data on individual-level eviction experiences and housing instability. The researchers did not control for other social factors (e.g., racism, discrimination, social support) which could both increase eviction risk and pregnancy complications, creating spurious associations. More granular data on housing challenges is needed for more causal claims.
Potential reverse causation related to lack of prior preterm birth history
Reverse causation could not be ruled out since prior history of preterm birth (a strong risk factor for subsequent preterm birth) was not included in the analysis. If women with a history of preterm birth tend to live in lower-income neighborhoods with high eviction rates (reverse causation), this would inflate the association presented.

Rating Explanation

This is an important study examining a socially relevant exposure and a serious health outcome in a vulnerable population. However, the limitations regarding participant-reported address data and the risk of residual confounding, lack of data on other social factors, and the possibility of reverse causation limit the causal inferences that can be drawn and thus lower the rating. The sample size is adequate and the statistical methods appropriate.

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File Information

Original Title: Neighborhood Threat of Eviction over Time and Risk of Preterm Birth in Black American Women
Uploaded: August 21, 2025 at 06:23 PM
Privacy: Public