141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

275615
IMPACT of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors of pregnant women on the BIRTH weight in underdeveloped regions

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Peter Balazs , Department of Public Health, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Andrea Grenczer , Department of Family Care Methodology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Ildiko Rakoczi , Department of Family Care, Debrecen University, Nyiregyhaza, Nyiregyhaza, Hungary
Kristie Long Foley, PhD , Medical Humanities Program, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
Background: Low SES and unhealthy lifestyles increase the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) babies. However, less is known about how these factors affect non PTB/LBW newborns' birthweight. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Hungaryof 11,207 babies weighing 2,499grams+ to assess the effect of SES and lifestyle factors on newborns' birth weight. Linear regression modeling was used to assess factors that contributed to changes in birth weight (p ≤.05). Results:The mean weight of all babies was 3,312 grams (median=3,300). The only factor associated with a higher birth weight was being married versus all other forms of cohabitation (+30.7 gram, 95%CI 60.1-1.4). Factors that lowered birth weight were living in overcrowded houses (-34.6 gram, 95%CI 1.8-67.3), experiencing deep poverty (-60.0 gram, 95%CI 23.1-90.8), having 8 years of school or less (105.4 gram, 95%CI 68.8-141.9), the mother being under a normal BMI (-120.1 gram 95%CI 82.9-157.3) and continuing tobacco smoking during the pregnancy (-150.1 95%CI 116.2-184.1). Dietary factors were unrelated to birth-weight.The SES and lifestyle factors in the multivariable model accounted for 39% of the total variance. Conclusions: Changing living standards is important for ensuring the healthiest outcomes for newborn babies, even for those who are not low birth weight or preterm. Moreover, high-quality and intensive tobacco cessation campaigns could be a cost-effective and efficient way to improve obstetrical outcomes.Thus, tailoring cessation programs for pregnant women should be a high priority pre-eminently in the underdeveloped regions.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of lifestyle and socioeconomic circumstances of pregnant women in normal weight related birth outcomes Evaluate the effect of behavioral and environmental factors on the birth weight above 2500 gram of non-preterm babies Discuss strategies of high quality, intensive and cost-effective strategies for improving the situation in underdeveloped regions

Keywords: Pregnancy Outcomes, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Co-Principal of the research project 2008-2013 "Increasing capacity of tobacco research in Hungary" supported by the Fogarty International Center, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (1 R01 TW007927-01). Within the whole project I am specifically responsible for the maternal and child health program: Lifestyle and social circumstances of pregnant women in underdeveloped regions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.