Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Advisor

Jeannette Manger

Abstract

A multitude of environmental factors correlate to negative outcomes on maternal and fetal health such as low birth weight. While studies reveal that housing quality, air pollution, and stress contribute to negative birth outcomes, it is unclear which housing factors have the greatest impact and how rural, suburban, and urban settings in the U.S. differ. The objective of this study was to delve into how environmental factors such as housing quality and community type impact low birth weight in Ohio. This study used publicly available data from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps to examine how different housing conditions correlate to low birth weight. Ohio counties were categorized as rural, urban, or suburban based on population, and several statistical tests were performed using SPSS to compare low birth weights across county types and to assess how housing factors contribute to variability in results. Data analysis showed that urban counties in Ohio had significantly higher low birth weight rates than rural or suburban counties with overall rates remaining stagnant from 2020–2025. Severe housing problems showed only a weak positive correlation with low birth weight, and among all housing factors analyzed, only homeownership significantly predicted low birth weight. While this study provided crucial information on housing factors that impact low birth weight, future research is needed to examine additional environmental factors while also examining the same factors in states other than Ohio.

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