State policies targeting alcohol use in pregnancy result in worse birth outcomes
Using data from over 148 million births over 50 years, we found that most state-level policies do not improve birth outcomes, and that several policies are associated with poorer birth outcomes, such as low birthweight, premature birth, and a low APGAR score. Even policies that are meant to be supportive of pregnant women, such as policies that require mandatory warning signs related to alcohol use during pregnancy, were associated with adverse birth outcomes and decreased prenatal care utilization.
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