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Relationship between prenatal checkup status and low birth weight: a nationwide birth cohort-the Japan Environment

Mitsue Nagamine1, Kenta Matsumura2, Akiko Tsuchida2

  • 1Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership (ToTAL)/Institute for Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

Annals of Epidemiology
|April 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Missing prenatal checkups significantly increase the risk of low birth weight (LBW). Factors like marital status and pregnancy attitude influence attendance, highlighting the need for interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) remains a significant global health concern.
  • Prenatal care is crucial for monitoring pregnancy and preventing adverse outcomes.
  • Understanding factors influencing prenatal checkup attendance is key to improving maternal and infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal checkup attendance and low birth weight (LBW).
  • To identify demographic and psychosocial factors affecting pregnant women's prenatal checkup attendance.
  • To inform strategies for reducing LBW rates through improved prenatal care adherence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), a large nationwide birth cohort.
  • Analyzed 91,916 singleton live births, with LBW as the outcome and prenatal checkup status as the exposure.
  • Employed logistic regression analysis to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Main Results:

  • A significant linear trend showed increased LBW risk with more missed prenatal checkups (AORs ranging from 1.57 to 2.38).
  • Risk factors for missed checkups included divorced/widowed marital status, negative pregnancy attitude, and single marital status.
  • Protective factors for attendance were employment and positive mental health during mid-late pregnancy.

Conclusions:

  • Regular prenatal checkup attendance is strongly associated with reduced risk of low birth weight.
  • Targeted interventions addressing socioeconomic and psychological factors are needed to improve prenatal care adherence.
  • Promoting regular prenatal visits is essential for improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Health checkupLow birth weightPregnancyPrenatal care

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