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Head circumference of infants born to mothers with different educational levels; the Generation R Study

Selma H Bouthoorn1, Frank J van Lenthe, Anita C S Hokken-Koelega

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Plos One
|July 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Socioeconomic status influences head circumference (HC) in infants up to 6 months. Pregnancy-related factors like birth weight and gestational age explain these differences, highlighting the need for public health support for lower socioeconomic groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Public Health
  • Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

  • Head circumference (HC) is a key indicator of brain growth in early childhood.
  • Socioeconomic position (SEP) may influence early childhood development, but its impact on HC is not well-established.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and head circumference (HC) in early childhood.
  • To identify potential underlying factors contributing to any observed disparities in HC.
  • To inform public health strategies aimed at reducing health inequalities.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of Dutch children (N=3383) born between 2002-2006.
  • Maternal educational level used as the primary indicator of SEP.
  • Head circumference measured at 1, 3, 6, and 11 months; analyzed using linear regression adjusted for mediators.

Main Results:

  • Children of mothers with lower educational attainment had smaller head circumferences (HC) at 1, 3, and 6 months.
  • These differences were partially explained by child's length and weight at 1 and 3 months.
  • At 6 months, birth weight, gestational age, and parental height accounted for the HC disparities; no differences were observed at 11 months.

Conclusions:

  • Educational inequalities in HC during the first 6 months are largely attributable to pregnancy-related factors.
  • Factors such as birth weight and gestational age are key mediators of SEP-related HC differences.
  • Findings support public health policies focused on improving birth outcomes in lower socioeconomic populations.
Abstract

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