1. Association of income and education with fecundability in a North American preconception cohort.
- Author
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Schrager NL, Wesselink AK, Wang TR, Hatch EE, Rothman KJ, Mikkelsen EM, Boynton-Jarrett RD, and Wise LA
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Humans, Maternal Age, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Reproductive Health, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time-to-Pregnancy, United States, Educational Status, Fertility, Income statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate socioeconomic determinants of fecundability., Methods: Among 8654 female pregnancy planners from Pregnancy Study Online, a North American prospective cohort study (2013-2019), we examined associations between socioeconomic status and fecundability (the per-cycle probability of conception). Information on income and education was collected via baseline questionnaires. Bimonthly follow-up questionnaires were used to ascertain pregnancy status. We estimated fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using proportional probabilities regression, controlling for potential confounders., Results: Relative to an annual household income of greater than or equal to $150,000, adjusted FRs were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.83-1.01) for less than $50,000, 0.99 (95% CI: 0.92-1.07) for $50,000-$99,000, and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.01-1.18) for $100,000-$149,000. FRs for less than 12, 13-15, and 16 years of education, relative to greater than or equal to 17 years, were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.76-1.08), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.78-0.91), and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84-0.95), respectively. Slightly stronger associations for income and education were seen among older women., Conclusions: Lower levels of education and income were associated with modestly reduced fecundability. These results demonstrate the presence of socioeconomic disparities in fecundability., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2020
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