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Maternal education inequalities in height growth rates in early childhood: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study.

ABSTRACT: Socio-economic inequalities in attained height have been reported in many countries. The aim of this study was to explore the age at which maternal education inequalities in child height emerge among children from a middle-income country. Using data from the 2004 Pelotas cohort study from Brazil we modelled individual height growth trajectories in 2106 boys and 1947 girls from birth to 4 years using a linear spline mixed-effects model. We examined the associations of maternal education with birth length and trajectories of growth in length/height, and explored the effect of adjusting for a number of potential confounder or mediator factors. We showed linear and positive associations of maternal education with birth length and length/height growth rates at 0-3 months and 12-29/32 months with very little association at 3-12 months, particularly in boys. By age 4 years the mean height of boys was 101.06?cm (SE?=?0.28) in the lowest and 104.20?cm (SE?=?0.15) in the highest education category (mean difference 3.14?cm, SE?=?0.32, P?

SUBMITTER: Matijasevich A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3491696 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Maternal education inequalities in height growth rates in early childhood: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study.

Matijasevich Alicia A Howe Laura D LD Tilling Kate K Santos Iná S IS Barros Aluísio J D AJ Lawlor Debbie A DA

Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 20120113 3

Socio-economic inequalities in attained height have been reported in many countries. The aim of this study was to explore the age at which maternal education inequalities in child height emerge among children from a middle-income country. Using data from the 2004 Pelotas cohort study from Brazil we modelled individual height growth trajectories in 2106 boys and 1947 girls from birth to 4 years using a linear spline mixed-effects model. We examined the associations of maternal education with birt ...[more]

PMID: 22471683

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Project description:ObjectiveGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects a significant number of women. Evidence regarding the association between GDM and offspring body mass index (BMI) is unclear due to small samples and lack of adequate confounding control. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between GDM and offspring BMI z-scores from birth to early adolescence and to examine the role of maternal pre-gestational BMI in this relationship.DesignProspective study.SettingPelotas 2004 Birth Cohort, Brazil.ParticipantsCohort participants that were followed-up from birth up to early adolescence (~3500) and their mothers.Primary outcome measuresBMI z-scores at birth, 3, 12, 24, 48 months and 6 and 11 years of age, calculated according to the WHO growth charts.ResultsUnadjusted and adjusted linear regressions were performed and interaction terms between maternal pre-gestational BMI and GDM were included. Prevalence of self-reported GDM was 2.6% (95% CI 2.1% to 3.1%). The offspring BMI z-scores (SD) at birth, 3, 12, 24, 48 months and at 6 and 11 years were 0.10 (1.12), -0.47 (1.10), 0.59 (1.10), 0.59 (1.08), 0.78 (1.32), 0.70 (1.43) and 0.75 (1.41), respectively. Unadjusted regression models showed positive associations between GDM and offspring BMI z-scores at birth, 6 and 11 years. After adjustment, the associations attenuated towards the null. Statistical evidence of effect modification between maternal pre-gestational BMI and GDM was observed at birth (p=0.007), with the association between GDM and offspring BMI z-score being apparent only in those children born to overweight or obese mothers (?=0.72, 95%?CI 0.30 to 1.14 and ?=0.61, 95%?CI 0.20 to 1.01, respectively).ConclusionsWe observed that in the association between GDM and offspring BMI z-scores, there is a predominant role for maternal nutritional status before pregnancy and that the association between GDM and newborn's BMI is apparent only among those born to overweight or obese mothers.

Project description:BackgroundThe postnatal period is the ideal time to deliver interventions to improve the health of both the newborn and the mother. However, postnatal care shows low-level coverage in a large number of countries. The objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate inequities in maternal postnatal visits, 2) examine differences in postnatal care coverage between public and private providers and 3) explore the relationship between the absence of maternal postnatal visits and exclusive breastfeeding, use of contraceptive methods and maternal smoking three months after birth.MethodsIn the calendar year of 2004 a birth cohort study was started in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. Mothers were interviewed soon after delivery and at three months after birth. The absence of postnatal visits was defined as having no consultations between the time of hospital discharge and the third month post-partum. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between absence of postnatal visits and type of insurance scheme adjusting for potential confounding factors.ResultsPoorer women, black/mixed, those with lower level of education, single mothers, adolescents, multiparae, smokers, women who delivered vaginally and those who were not assisted by a physician were less likely to attend postnatal care. Postnatal visits were also less frequent among women who relied in the public sector than among private patients (72.4% vs 96% among public and private patients, respectively, x2 p < 0.001) and this difference was not explained either by maternal characteristics or by health care utilization patterns. Women who attended postnatal visits were more likely to exclusively breastfeed their infants, to use contraceptive methods and to be non-smokers three months after birth.ConclusionPostpartum care is available for every woman free of charge in the Brazilian Publicly-funded health care system. However, low levels of postpartum care were seen in the study (77%). Efforts should be made to increase the percentage of women receiving postpartum care, particularly those in socially disadvantaged groups. This could include locally-adapted health education interventions that address women's beliefs and attitudes towards postpartum care. There is a need to monitor postpartum care and collected data should be used to guide policies for health care systems.

Dataset Information

Maternal education inequalities in height growth rates in early childhood: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study.

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Maternal education inequalities in height growth rates in early childhood: 2004 Pelotas birth cohort study.

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