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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

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In utero Ramadan exposure and child nutrition

Hoi Chu1,2, Srinivas Goli3,4, Anu Rammohan1

  • 1Business School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
|July 7, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Maternal Ramadan fasting during pregnancy did not significantly impact child nutrition. This large-scale study found no negative associations between in utero Ramadan exposure and child stunting or underweight.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Maternal and Child Nutrition
  • Demography

Background:

  • Understanding the effects of maternal religious practices during pregnancy on child development is crucial.
  • Ramadan fasting is a significant religious observance with potential implications for maternal health and fetal development.
  • Previous research on Ramadan fasting's impact on child nutrition is limited and inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically analyze the association between in utero exposure to Ramadan fasting and child nutrition outcomes.
  • To investigate potential negative effects on child stunting and underweight.
  • To provide robust evidence using a large, international dataset.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 759,799 children across 103 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in 56 countries (2003-2020).
  • Employed an intent-to-treat framework, treating Ramadan exposure as a natural experiment.
  • Compared stunting and underweight rates in children aged 0-5 years exposed in utero to Ramadan fasting versus unexposed children.

Main Results:

  • No significant evidence of a negative association between in utero Ramadan exposure and child nutrition (stunting and underweight).
  • A potential exception was observed for stunting in Muslim children exposed during the first trimester.
  • Overall, findings suggest Ramadan fasting in utero does not generally harm child nutritional status.

Conclusions:

  • In utero exposure to Ramadan fasting is not significantly associated with negative child nutrition outcomes.
  • The study provides reassurance regarding the safety of maternal Ramadan fasting for child development.
  • Further research may explore specific subgroups or gestational periods if needed.

Keywords:
Child nutritionRamadan fastingin utero exposurereligion

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