The purpose of this study was to identify the maternal psychosocial factors associated with child out-of-home living arrangements among pregnant women living in poverty. One hundred and sixty women considered at psychosocial risk for child maltreatment were interviewed according to a structured questionnaire when they presented for prenatal care at a large urban hospital-based clinic. Mothers whose children were currently living with substitute caregivers were compared with mothers whose children resided with them. The policy and practice implications of the findings are discussed.
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