A Pseudo-panel Analysis in 68 Developing Countries Life Course Effect of Risk Factors at Women's Birth on Their Subsequent Reproductive Outcomes

We test the hypothesis that risk factors at birth carry lifetime impact on females into their childbearing years, reflected by increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. We constructed birth cohorts from each survey and linked them together to form pseudo-cohorts. Risk factors at birth are obtained from the first round of DHS, including maternal age, birth interval, and parity. Birth outcomes are measured by cohort-specific prevalence of preterm birth, low-weight birth and child loss.Our analysis supports the hypothesis that risk factors at birth increased the hazard of adverse birth outcomes of the cohort at reproductive age. We show the trend line for the Kenyan adult cohorts experience with ever loss of an infant and child, which suggests a 5% point increase with each percentage point increase in short birth spacing in infancy. This study contributes to our knowledge of life course impacts of risk factors at birth on adult reproductive outcomes. Interventions that target eliminating risk factors at birth, such as promotion of adequate birth spacing, can prevent adverse birth outcomes in the long run. The knowledge of covariates' influence mediating the relationship between risk factors at birth and adult birth outcomes can inform the design of interventions to alleviate the short-term adverse impact of risk factors at birth. Methodologically, this study expands the statistical tools available to assess longitudinal trends using DHS data.