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Nutritional and Reproductive Risk Factors for Small for Gestational Age and Preterm Births

Naoko Kozuki1, Anne C C Lee, Robert E Black

  • 1Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series
|June 27, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Millions of babies born too small or too soon in low- and middle-income countries face lifelong health risks. Identifying maternal risk factors for small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth is crucial for reducing infant mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Annually, 32.4 million small for gestational age (SGA) and 13.7 million preterm babies are born in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • These newborns face increased risks of neonatal mortality and long-term morbidities, including adult chronic diseases.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of risk factors is critical to reduce global burdens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore nutritional and reproductive health-related maternal risk factors for SGA and preterm birth in LMICs.
  • To synthesize findings on maternal stature, age, parity, birth interval, BMI, and weight gain in pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of epidemiological data on maternal risk factors in LMICs.
  • Literature synthesis on associations between maternal characteristics and adverse birth outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Short maternal stature, young/advanced maternal age, low/high parity, and short birth intervals are identified as key risk factors.
  • Low/high pre-pregnancy BMI and inadequate gestational weight gain are associated with SGA and/or preterm birth.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal nutritional and reproductive health significantly influences SGA and preterm birth risk in LMICs.
  • Targeting these modifiable risk factors is essential for improving neonatal and long-term child health outcomes.

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