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Determinants of birth size in Northeast Spain
L Escartín1, M P Samper, J Santabárbara
1Departamento de Pediatría, Radiología y Medicina Física .
Insights
Maternal factors like pre-pregnancy weight, weight gain, smoking, and origin significantly influence newborn size. These findings highlight key modifiable elements impacting infant birth weight and length.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Understanding determinants of newborn body size is crucial for public health.
- Previous studies have explored various factors, but regional variations and specific predictors require ongoing investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the key determinants of newborn body size (birth weight and length) in Northeast Spain.
- To analyze the influence of gestational, parental, and socio-cultural variables on infant anthropometry.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1442 infants born in Aragón, Spain, between March 2009 and March 2010.
- Data collection included obstetric, neonatal, socio-demographic, and parental anthropometric measurements.
- Hierarchical linear regression models were employed to identify significant associations.
Main Results:
- Male infants, non-smoking mothers, immigrant mothers, and higher parity were associated with significantly higher birth weight and length.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy weight, weight gain during pregnancy, and maternal height were positively correlated with newborn size.
- Newborn anthropometry was not significantly associated with maternal age, education, or location.
Conclusions:
- Maternal pre-pregnancy characteristics, gestational weight gain, smoking status, parity, and maternal origin are primary predictors of newborn birth weight and length.
- The study identifies several potentially modifiable factors that can influence fetal growth and development.
- These findings can inform interventions aimed at optimizing newborn body size and potentially long-term health outcomes.
Objective:
To update knowledge on determinants of newborn body size in Northeast of Spain considering gestational, parental and socio-cultural variables.
Methods:
Cross-sectional assessment of 1442 infants from Aragón (Spain), born at term between March 2009 and March 2010. Obstetric, neonatal, socio-demographic and parental anthropometry data were collected during the first infant scheduled health examination. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to explore associations between newborn anthropometry and included variables.
Results:
Birth weight was significantly higher in males than in females (130.7 g), when mother did not smoke during pregnancy (126.3 g), in immigrant mothers (113.1 g) and when parity increased (67.1 g per additional birth). Body weight at birth was 16.9 g higher per kg of maternal weight gain during pregnancy, 5.4 g higher per kg of maternal pre-pregnancy weight and 5.1 g higher per cm of maternal height. Birth length was also significantly higher in males than in females (0.87 cm), when mother did not smoke (0.48 cm), in immigrant mothers (0.64 cm), and it was positively associated with parity, maternal anthropometry and paternal height. Newborn anthropometry was not associated with maternal age, educational level or living location.
Conclusions:
Independently of gestational age and newborn sex, the main predictors of birth weight and length were maternal pre-pregnancy anthropometry and weight gain during gestation, to smoke during pregnancy, parity and maternal origin. Our results identify potential modifiable factors influencing newborn body size.
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