Central Pennsylvania Womens Health Study CePAWHS: Findings of a Health Status and Health Risk Factor

1
Central Pennsylvania Womens Health Study
(CePAWHS) Findings of a Health Status and Health
Risk Factors Survey of Reproductive-age Women
Baker, S. A. Weisman, C. S. Hillemeier, M. M.
Botti, J. J. Velott, D. L. Chase, G. A. Dyer,
A-M.
The Central Pennsylvania Womens Health Study
(CePAWHS) is a two-phase research project to
reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes by improving
womens health before conception
(pre-conceptionally) and in between pregnancies
(inter-conceptionally). It is a project of the
Central Pennsylvania Center of Excellence for
Research on Pregnancy Outcomes (COE) and is
funded by a four-year Pennsylvania Department of
Health non-formula tobacco settlement grant
awarded in June 2004. The CePAWHS research
specifically aims to reduce the adverse pregnancy
outcomes of preterm birth and low birthweight in
Central Pennsylvania (see chart, Fig. 1). The
first phase of the CePAWHS project consisted of a
population-based survey of health status and
risks among women ages 18-45 residing in a
28-county region in Central Pennsylvania (see
map, Fig. 2). This included a random digit dial
(RDD) telephone survey of 2,002 women and a
household survey of 288 Amish women. Data from
Phase I were used to design a multidimensional
preventive intervention to address prevalent
health risks in women in low-income rural
communities. In the RDD telephone survey, some
of the most significant findings of CePAWHS-I
concerned the prevalent health risk factors.
Reported risk factors included 23 of
respondents were obese by BMI (Body Mass Index)
29 had been diagnosed with depression or
anxiety 68 consumed fruits less than

daily 56 consumed vegetables less than daily
48 drank alcohol ever 34 binge drank (among
those who drank ever) 28 smoked cigarettes and
just 38 took a multi-vitamin with folic acid
(see chart, Fig. 3). Additional CePAWHS Phase I
findings were that 11 of RDD telephone survey
respondents had been diagnosed with hypertension
10 had been diagnosed with high cholesterol 38
had been diagnosed with one or more gynecologic
infections and 75 reported not getting 30
minutes of moderate or strenuous physical
activity on most days of the week.
The CePAWHS-I findings show that reproductive-age
women in Central Pennsylvania are at high risk
for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including those
of preterm birth and low birthweight. The second
phase of CePAWHS is the randomized trial of a
community-based multi-session group behavioral
intervention designed for reproductive-age women
ages 18-35. The group intervention being tested
focuses on health education and behavior change
skills related to key risk factors for adverse
pregnancy outcomes. These include nutrition,
physical activity, psychosocial stress, smoking,
alcohol consumption, and pregnancy planning.
Field research for CePAWHS-II was completed in
March 2007. Study participants from the second
phase of CePAWHS will continue to be followed
through 2 phone interviews occurring at 6 and 12
months from participant baseline risk assessment
(initial study health screening). Findings from
the randomized trial of this intervention will be
available in June 2007.
Fig. 1. Preterm Birth and Low Birthweight Rates
in Pennsylvania and Nationwide Compared to the
Healthy People 2010 Goal Rates
CePAWHS (Central Pennsylvania Womens Health
Study)
Fig. 3. CePAWHS Phase I Prevalent Health Risk
Factors
www.womenshealthcoe.psu.edu Penn State College of
Medicine 717-531-1074
Fig. 2. Central Pennsylvania Project Region for
CePAWHS